Bromheadia finlaysoniana

Bromheadia finlaysoniana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Vandeae
Subtribe: Adrorhizinae
Genus: Bromheadia
Species: B. finlaysoniana
Binomial name
Bromheadia finlaysoniana
(Lindl.) Miq.
Synonyms[1]
  • Bromheadia finlaysoniana var. palustris (Lindl.) J.J.Sm.
  • B. palustris Lindl.
  • B. palustris var. papuana J.J.Sm.
  • B. pulchra Schltr.
  • B. sylvestris Ridl.
  • B. venusta T.E.Hunt
  • Coelogyne caulescens Griff.
  • Grammatophyllum finlaysonianum Lindl. (basionym)

Bromheadia finlaysoniana, known in Australia as the synonym Bromheadia pulchra with the vernacular name pale reed orchid, is a tall, reed-like terrestrial orchid species in the genus Bromheadia. Under the interpretation of the 1997 revision of the genus where a few taxa were sunk into synonymy - notably B. pulchra - this species has a wide distribution that includes Burma; Thailand; Cambodia; Laos; Vietnam; the Malay Peninsula; Singapore; Sumatra; Borneo; Brunei; the Moluccas; New Guinea, including Papua New Guinea; the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia; the Anambas Islands; and possibly the Philippines, though it's uncertain whether the specimens referred to the Philippines were actually collected there.[1]

Bromheadia finlaysoniana grows in wet areas, usually near streams, 0–200 metres altitude.[2] It grows 1 to 1.5 metres high with stiff leaves, 100–150 mm x 20–30 mm alternating along the upper parts of the stems which are spaced along a creeping rhizome. The flowers, which have white and yellow interiors with mauve to pink-purple exteriors, appear between June to March. Usually one sees just the buds as the flowers only open briefly during the day. They are pollinated by unidentified insects.[3] In Queensland, B. finlaysoniana grows from the top of the Cape York Peninsula in the north to Hopevale in the south.[3]

A cDNA for the enzyme dihydroflavonol 4-reductase has been cloned from B. finlaysoniana.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Kruizinga, J., H.J. van Scheindelen, and E.F. de Vogel. 1997. Revision of the genus Bromheadia (Orchidaceae). Orchid Monographs, 8: 79-118, figures 29-55, plates 4b-5b.
  2. ↑ Jones, D.L. 2006. A Complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia, Including the Island Territories. New Holland Publishers, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W. 2086 Australia. p. 353. ISBN 1-877069-12-4.
  3. 1 2 Beasley, J. 2009. Plants of Cape York: The Compact Guide. John Beasley, Kuranda, Qld., Australia. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-9806863-0-2.
  4. ↑ The isolation, molecular characterization and expression of dihydroflavonol 4-reductase cDNA in the orchid, Bromheadia finlaysoniana. Chye-Fong Liew, Chiang-Shiong Loh, Chong-Jin Goh and Saw-Hoon Lim, Plant Science, Volume 135, Issue 2, 10 July 1998, Pages 161–169, doi:10.1016/S0168-9452(98)00071-5
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