Northern thumbnail orchid (Dendrobium linguiforme linguiforme)
Description
Epiphytic or lithophytic herb forming spreading mats. Stems creeping, appressed to host, much-branched, 0.4 cm thick, becoming yellowish. Leaf terminal on stem, prostrate, sessile; lamina oblong to orbicular, 3-4.5 cm x 1.5-2 cm, dark green, thick, fleshy, furrowed, sandpapery. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, erect, 60-150 mm long, from node near leaf base, the flowers often on one side; pedicels 10 mm long, filiform. Flowers 6-15, non-resupinate, porrect to nodding, star-shaped, 6-8 mm x 6-9 mm, cream, quickly ageing yellowish, bronze or brownish. Sepals and petals not spreading widely, narrow, apices obtuse, thin-textured. Dorsal sepal narrowly triangular, 12-16 mm x 3-4 mm. Lateral sepals divergent, narrowly triangular, falcate, 12-16 mm x 4-5 mm, bases fused to column foot. Petals linear, 12-14 mm x 2 mm. Labellum 4.5 mm x 3 mm, curved, 3-lobed; lateral lobes small, obtuse; midlobe margins undulate, apex apiculate; upper surface with 3 widely separated ridges. Column 2-3 mm long. Column foot 3-4 mm long, curved. Capsules porrect to pendulous, dehiscent.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Asparagales
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Family: Orchidaceae
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Genus: Dendrobium
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