Gastrodia vescula
| Gastrodia vescula | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Gastrodia vescula | ||||||||||||
| DLJones |
Gastrodia vescula is based in South Australia, leaf green loose kind from the family of orchids (Orchidaceae). It was first described in 1991 by David Lloyd Jones .
features
Gastrodia vescula is a leafless plant, has given up photosynthesis and therefore no longer forms chlorophyll . Instead, it lives myco-heterotrophically on a fungus that feeds the plant.
The flower stem is 5 to 20 centimeters high, slender and pale brown. There are one to three tubular, nodding flowers on it, flowering time is in November / December.
The flowers are 10 to 12 millimeters long, pale brown and smooth on the outside and white on the inside. The petals are thickened on the irregular edges. The labellum is 10 to 11 millimeters long and 3 millimeters wide, white and three-lobed, the two outer lobes are rectangular, all three lobes have a thickened, irregular edge. Three yellow combs merge into one another and form a wavy bead. The plant is self-pollinating.
Distribution, habitat, botanical history
The species is highly endemic and native to South Australia at altitudes between 5 and 100 m. The plants grow there in sandy loam soils in dense heather forests.
literature
- David L. Jones: A complete guide to native orchids of Australia: including the island territories. , p.373, Frenchs Forest, 2006, ISBN 1-8770-6912-4