Dockrillia

Dockrillia
Dockrillia teretifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Dendrobieae
Subtribe: Dendrobiinae
Genus: Dockrillia
Briegar, 1981
Species

approx 28 species, including:

  • Dockrillia bowmanii
  • Dockrillia cucumerina
  • Dockrillia calamiformis
  • Dockrillia convoluta
  • Dockrillia dolichophylla
  • Dockrillia fairfaxii
  • Dockrillia linguiformis
  • Dockrillia mortii
  • Dockrillia nugentii
  • Dockrillia pugioniformis
  • Dockrillia racemosa
  • Dockrillia rigida
  • Dockrillia schoenina
  • Dockrillia striolata subsp. chrysantha
  • Dockrillia striolata subsp. striolata
  • Dockrillia teretifolia
  • Dockrillia wassellii

All terete leaved Dendrobium species from Australia and Papua New Guinea have been moved into a newly created genus, Dockrillia, named after Alick Dockrill, a contemporary Australian orchidologist. Dockrillia are ephiphytic or lithophytic plants, and found mainly along the east coast of Australia.

"The genus was recently reinstated as distinct from Dendrobium based on absence of pseudobulbs, single fleshy leaf terminal on a short stem, multiflowered inflorescence arising from near the base of a leaf and flowers with a 3-lobed labellum. Pollination by native bees."[1]
"Although the name Dockrillia was established as far back as 1981, it is only in recent years that the name has been resurrected. The genus Dockrillia has been split off from Dendrobium and comprises the "terete-leaved" group of "dendrobes". This revision has been generally accepted in Australia. Species in Dockrillia are characterised by succulent leaves which are rounded in cross-section (terete) and which arise from a creeping rhizome. Currently about 28 species are recognised. Dockrillia is named after Alick Dockrill."[2]

The claim that Dockrillia is generally accepted in Australia is disputed. The Australian Orchid Council (AOC) follows the Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepted nomenclature and the RHS Hybrid Orchid Registration system, both of which list Dendrobium as the accepted genus and Dockrillia as a synonym. The major orchid growers association AOC and the AOC orchid judging system in Australia only accepts Dockrillia as a synonym. [3]

There are about 29 species, 17 in Australia, with the others in Timor, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa and Tahiti.[4]

Dockrillia crosses readily with Dendrobium to make Dockrilobium.

Most Dockrillia plants are easily propagated by rhizome division.

Selected species

Footnotes

  1. A complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia, including the island territories, p. 388. David L. Jones. 2006. New Holland Publishers, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W. 2086 Australia. ISBN 1-877069-12-4.
  2. Australian Plants Online. "What is a Dockrillia?"
  3. AOC
  4. A complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia, including the island territories, p. 388. David L. Jones. 2006. New Holland Publishers, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W. 2086 Australia. ISBN 1-877069-12-4.
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