Common name: Ravine Orchid
Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii F.Muell. APNI* Synonyms: Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii var. aemulus Rupp APNI*
Description: Semi-pendent epilith or rarely an epiphyte, often forming large, branching mats of shoots; stems 8–100 cm long.
Leaves narrow-oblong to linear to triangular, 6–20 cm long, 10–15 mm wide, slightly channelled, not spotted.
Inflorescence 10–20 cm long, 4–15-flowered, spreading to arching; rachis much shorter than peduncle; pedicel plus ovary c. 15 mm long. Flowers not campanulate; dorsiventral dimension of flower about equal to lateral dimension. Sepals and lateral petals elliptic to spathulate, white to pink, with pink to crimson spots at the base or covering them. Labellum 5–6 mm long, about half as long as dorsal sepal, glabrous. Column c. 2 mm long, about two-thirds as long as column foot, set almost at right angles to it.
Flowering: October–November
Distribution and occurrence: Usually grows on rocks or rarely on bases of trees, in subtropical rainforest, usually near streams, from 500-700 m alt.; north from the Macleay R.
NSW subdivisions: NC
Other Australian states: Qld
Threatened species: NSW BCA: Vulnerable; Commonwealth EPBC: Vulnerable
Text by P. H. Weston
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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