Common name: Cucumber Orchid
Dendrobium cucumerinum MacLeay ex Lindl. APNI* Synonyms: Dockrillia cucumerina (MacLeay ex Lindl.) Brieger APNI*
Description: Epiphyte or epilith with stems prostrate, wiry, rooting freely along almost whole length, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 3–4 mm diam., with 1 leaf at apex; roots smooth, creeping.
Leaves prostrate, ellipsoid to obloid, 1.5–3.5 cm long, 7–13 mm diam., succulent, tuberculate.
Inflorescences 2–4 cm long, 2–10-flowered. Sepals and lateral petals cream to pale yellow or green with 3–5 reddish purple striations in the basal half; dorsal sepal 13–20 mm long, 2–3 mm wide. Labellum colour white with purple markings, 10–14 mm long, 4–5 mm wide. Column 3–3.5 mm long; column foot 3–4 mm long.
Flowering: November–February
Distribution and occurrence: Grows almost exclusively on Casuarina cunninghamiana but also occasionally on other tree species and on rocks; north from the Campbelltown area, west to the Blue Mtns and Armidale district.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, NT, CT
Other Australian states: Qld
D. cucumerinum and D. bowmanii hybridise rarely where they grow together.
Text by P. H. Weston
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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