Nervilia uniflora
| Red shield orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Nervilia |
| Species: | N. uniflora
|
| Binomial name | |
| Nervilia uniflora | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Nervilia uniflora, commonly known as the red shield orchid,[2] is a small terrestrial orchid found in northern Queensland. It has a single short-lived, pink or mauve flower. A dark green, heart-shaped leaf emerges at the base of the flowering stem after flowering.
Description
Nervilia uniflora is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb which grows in colonies with only a few individuals producing flowers in any one year. A single pink or mauve flower 25–30 mm (0.98–1.2 in) long and wide are borne on a flowering stem 100–200 mm (4–8 in) tall. The sepals are 18–23 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and the petals are similar but slightly shorter and narrower. The labellum is pink to mauve, 14–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide with three lobes, the middle lobe turned downwards. After flowering, a single heart-shaped leaf develops, including on those plants that did not flower. The leaf is dark green on the upper surface, reddish below, 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) wide and held horizonatlly above ground level. Flowering occurs between November and January.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
The red shield orchid was first formally described in 1866 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the namePogonia uniflora and published the description in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.[4][5] In 1906 Rudolf Schlechter changed the name to Nervilia uniflora.[6] The specific epithet (uniflora) is derived from the Latin words unus meaning "one" or "whole"[7]: 572 and flora meaning "flower".[7]: 338
Distribution and habitat
Nervilia uniflora occurs in north Queensland between Cooktown and Proserpine. It grows in woodland, forest and rainforest.[2][3]
References
- ^ a b "Nervilia uniflora". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ a b c Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 282. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ a b "Nervilia uniflora". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ "Pogonia uniflora". APNI. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1866). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne. p. 201. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Nervilia uniflora". APNI. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ a b Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.