Dipodium pardalinum

Dipodium pardalinum, commonly known as spotted hyacinth-orchid[3] or leopard hyacinth-orchid,[4] is a leafless hemiparasitic orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia.[3]

Dipodium pardalinum
Inflorescence
Lower Glenelg National Park, Victoria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Dipodium
Species:
D. pardalinum
Binomial name
Dipodium pardalinum

Description

For most of the year, plants are dormant and have no above-ground presence. Below the ground lie fleshy roots. Flower spikes between 40 and 90 cm in height appear between December and March in the species' native range.[5] These racemose inflorescences have 10 to 40 white to pale pink fleshy flowers with dark red spots or blotches. The tepals are strongly recurved and the three-lobed labellum has a line of white hairs.[5]

Taxonomy

The species was formally described in 1996 by botanist David L. Jones in the journal Muelleria. The type specimen was collected in Heathmere, Victoria.[1] The specific epithet pardalinum comes from the Greek word for leopard (pardos) alluding to the spots on the flowers.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Dipodium pardalinum occurs in western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia in open forest with an understorey of bracken or shrubs.[5]

Victoria

It occurs in the west of the state with records from Wombat State Forest, Smythesdale, Creswick, and Heathmere to the north of Portland. A single observation has been reported from The Basin in the Dandenong Ranges.[5]

South Australia

In South Australia, the species occurs from Naracoorte on the Victorian border to the Mount Lofty Ranges.[5] In the Adelaide-Mount Lofty region the species is found in stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua) woodland growing in association with Acacia myrtifolia, Xanthorrhoea semiplana ssp. tateana and Pteridium esculentum.[4] It does not grow in proximity to other Dipodium species as is the case elsewhere.[4] Prior to recognition as a distinct taxon, this population was regarded as a variety of Dipodium roseum.[4]

In the Deep Creek Conservation Park at the southern end of the Fleurieu Peninsula, the species is threatened by an invasion of broom (Genista monspessulana).[4]

Ecology

Pollination of this species, as for all species in the genus, is by native bees and wasps.[3]

Conservation

The species is listed as "rare" on the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries' advisory list of rare or threatened plants in Victoria and "vulnerable" in South Australia.[6][7]

Cultivation

No leafless species of Dipodium has been sustained in cultivation due to the inability to replicate its association with mycorrhizal fungi in a horticultural context.[3]

References
  1. "Dipodium pardalinum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  2. "Dipodium pardalinum D.L.Jones". The Plant List version 1.1. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  3. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia, including the island territories. Australia: Reed New Holland Publishers. ISBN 9781877069123.
  4. "Dipodium pardalinum". Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Threatened Species Profile. Department of Environment and Heritage. May 2008.
  5. Jones, D.L. (2009). "Dipodium pardalinum (Orchidaceae), a new species from Victoria and South Australia". Muelleria. 9: 105–109.
  6. "Threatened species advisory lists". Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  7. "Census of South Australian Vascular Plants Edition 5.00" (PDF). Botanic Gardens of Adelaide & State Herbarium. 2005.
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