''Bulbophyllum lageniforme'', commonly known as the smooth strand orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to tropical North Queensland. It has flattened, pale green, grooved, clump-forming pseudobulbs, stiff, dark green leaves and up to four cream-coloured or pale green flowers with a pink labellum. It usually grows on shrubs, trees and rocks in highland rainforest.

Description

''Bulbophyllum lageniforme'' is an epiphytic or lithophytic

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

with clump-forming, flattened, pale green, grooved pseudobulbs long and wide. The leaves are narrow oblong, thin but stiff, long and wide. Up to four bell-shaped, cream-coloured or pale green, rarely pink flowers long and wide are arranged a thread-like flowering stem long. The dorsal sepals is egg-shaped, long and wide, the lateral sepals long and wide. The

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s are lance-shaped to egg-shaped, long and wide. The labellum is pink, thick and fleshy, about long and wide. Flowering occurs between November and February.

Taxonomy and naming

''Bulbophyllum lageniforme'' was first formally described in 1904 by Frederick Manson Bailey and the description was published in the ''Queensland Agricultural Journal'' from a specimen collected near the summit of

Mount Bellenden Ker Mount Bellenden Ker is the second-highest mountain in Queensland, Australia, with a height of . It is named after the botanist John Bellenden Ker Gawler. Located south of Cairns near Babinda, it is adjacent to Mount Bartle Frere, the state's ...

. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

(''lageniforme'') is derived from the Latin words ''lagena'' meaning "a large jar or bottle with handles and a narrow neck" and ''forma'' meaning "shape", "figure" or "model".

Distribution and habitat

The smooth strand orchid grows on trees and rocks in rainforest and in sheltered places in drier forests. It occurs between the Mount Finnigan and the headwaters of the Tully River in Queensland.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bulbophyllum Lageniforme lageniforme Orchids of Queensland Endemic orchids of Australia Plants described in 1904