Nervilia uniflora

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.

Red shield orchid
Scientific classification Edit this 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]
  • Pogonia uniflora F.Muell.

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 horizontally 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 name Pogonia 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) means "one-flowered".[7]

Distribution and habitat

Nervilia uniflora occurs in north Queensland between Cooktown and Proserpine. It grows in woodland, forest and rainforest.[2][3]

References
  1. "Nervilia uniflora". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 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.
  3. D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Nervilia uniflora". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  4. "Pogonia uniflora". APNI. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  5. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1866). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 5. Melbourne. p. 201. Retrieved 18 August 2018.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. "Nervilia uniflora". APNI. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  7. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 332. ISBN 9780958034180.
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