Oncophyllum minutissimum
Encyclopedia
Oncophyllum minutissimum (F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., or Red Bead Orchid is a common widespread epiphytic
orchid.
Synonyms: Bulbophyllum minutissimum F. Muell. 1878; Dendrobium minutissimum F.Muell. 1866; Dendrobium nummulifolium R.King 1879; Oncophyllum minutissimum (F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. 2001; Phyllorchis minutissima (F.Muell.) Kuntze 1891; Phyllorchis moniliformis (Parish & Rchb. f.) Kuntze 1891; Bulbophyllum moniliforme Par & Rchb.f 1874.
O. minutissimum grows in coastal districts on trees and rocks, along streambanks and in mangroves and in rainforest to dry sclerophyll
forest; altitude: sea level to 500 metres. It is said to also occur in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Myanamar (Burma) and Thailand.
Description: Epiphyte
or epilith (a plant that grows on stone or stone-like material) with rhizomes prostrate, 2–4 mm between pseudobulbs. The plant forms a dense mat; pseudobulbs flattened-globose, 2–3 mm diam., smooth.
The pseudobulb
s are very small and turn red in strong light. or Red Bead Orchid
Leaves are narrow-triangular about 1 mm long, 0.2–0.3 mm wide, papery, curved and concave. Oval, hairy flowers c. 0.3 cm long, 1-flowered. Whitish to reddish with wide dark red stripes. Labellum red. Ovary hairy.
Flowers: October-November
It is said to possess small hollow pseudobulbs that contain stoma
ta (organs for gas exchange) on their inner surface. This minimizes the surface area and the danger of loss of water by transpiration.
A very similar species is the closely related Oncophyllum globuliforme or Green Bead Orchid, the only other member of the genus Oncophyllum
.
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
orchid.
Synonyms: Bulbophyllum minutissimum F. Muell. 1878; Dendrobium minutissimum F.Muell. 1866; Dendrobium nummulifolium R.King 1879; Oncophyllum minutissimum (F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. 2001; Phyllorchis minutissima (F.Muell.) Kuntze 1891; Phyllorchis moniliformis (Parish & Rchb. f.) Kuntze 1891; Bulbophyllum moniliforme Par & Rchb.f 1874.
O. minutissimum grows in coastal districts on trees and rocks, along streambanks and in mangroves and in rainforest to dry sclerophyll
Sclerophyll
Sclerophyll is the term for a type of vegetation that has hard leaves and short internodes . The word comes from the Greek sclero and phyllon ....
forest; altitude: sea level to 500 metres. It is said to also occur in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Myanamar (Burma) and Thailand.
Description: Epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
or epilith (a plant that grows on stone or stone-like material) with rhizomes prostrate, 2–4 mm between pseudobulbs. The plant forms a dense mat; pseudobulbs flattened-globose, 2–3 mm diam., smooth.
The pseudobulb
Pseudobulb
The pseudobulb is a storage organ derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes.It applies to the orchid family , specifically certain groups of epiphytic orchids, and may be single or composed of several internodes with evergreen or deciduous leaves along its length.In some species, it is...
s are very small and turn red in strong light. or Red Bead Orchid
Leaves are narrow-triangular about 1 mm long, 0.2–0.3 mm wide, papery, curved and concave. Oval, hairy flowers c. 0.3 cm long, 1-flowered. Whitish to reddish with wide dark red stripes. Labellum red. Ovary hairy.
Flowers: October-November
It is said to possess small hollow pseudobulbs that contain stoma
Stoma
In botany, a stoma is a pore, found in the leaf and stem epidermis that is used forgas exchange. The pore is bordered by a pair of specialized parenchyma cells known as guard cells that are responsible for regulating the size of the opening...
ta (organs for gas exchange) on their inner surface. This minimizes the surface area and the danger of loss of water by transpiration.
A very similar species is the closely related Oncophyllum globuliforme or Green Bead Orchid, the only other member of the genus Oncophyllum
Oncophyllum
Oncophyllum D. L. Jones & M. A. Clem., is a genus in the orchid family Orchidaceae consisting of only two small species endemic in Australia, and previously classified as being in Bulbophyllum- Description :...
.
External links
- PlanetNet - New South Wales Flora online. Features a line drawing and distribution map in NSW. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Bulbophyllum~minutissimum
- For a good description and lovely photo of the flower - see Jay's Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia at: http://www.orchidspecies.com/bulbmoniliforme.htm