Arthrochilus laevicallus facts for kids

Arthrochilus laevicallus is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) and is endemic to Papua New Guinea. It is leafless but has up to seven green, insect-like flowers with dark reddish glands on its labellum.

Description

Arthrochilus laevicallus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb with an underground tuber which produces daughter tubers on the end of root-like stolons. It lacks leaves but has between four and seven green, insect-like flowers on a flowering stem 105–175 mm (4–7 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is strap-shaped to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, about 11 mm (0.4 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals are strap-shaped but curved, about 8.5 mm (0.33 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The petals are curved linear, 8 mm (0.31 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and curved. The petals and lateral sepals turn backwards against the ovary. The labellum is about 6 mm (0.2 in) long and 1.5 mm (0.06 in) and held above the flower. The callus is about 3 mm (0.1 in) long with its central part covered with short, bristly hair-like glands. Flowering occurs in January.

Taxonomy and naming

Arthrochilus laevicallus was first formally described in 2011 by Paul Ormerod from a specimen collected near Tarara on the Wassi Kussa River in the west of Papua New Guinea. The description was published in The Orchadian.

Distribution and habitat

This elbow orchid grows in wet flats in forest in New Guinea.