Cyanicula ixioides
| White china orchid | |
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| Cyanicula ixioides growing near Wundowie | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Cyanicula |
| Species: | C. ixioides
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| Binomial name | |
| Cyanicula ixioides | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Cyanicula ixioides, commonly known as the white china orchid,[2] is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, broad, flattened leaf and up to three yellow or white flowers. It mostly only occurs in woodlands and forest near Perth.
Description[edit]
Cyanicula ixioides is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. It has a single flattened leaf, 20–40 mm (0.8–2 in) long, 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) wide and reddish-purple underneath. Up to three white or yellow flowers 30–50 mm (1–2 in) long and wide are borne on a stalk 40–150 mm (2–6 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is erect, 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) wide. The lateral sepals and petals have about the same dimensions as the dorsal sepal. The labellum is 5–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, pale yellow or white with purple stripes. The sides of the labellum have short teeth, the tip curves downwards and there are many rows of short bead-like calli covering the labellum. Flowering occurs from September to October.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming[edit]
White china orchid was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley who gave it the name Caladenia ixioides in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.[5] In 2000, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown transferred the species to Cyanicula as C. ixioides.[6] The specific epithet (ixioides) means "Ixia-like", referring to the flower shape.[3]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
Cyanicula ixioides is mostly found between York and Bindoon in the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions, growing in forest and woodland under wandoo and jarrah.[2][3][4][7]
Conservation[edit]
Cyanicula ixioides is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Cyanicula ixioides". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ a b c Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 30. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ a b c Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 190. ISBN 9780980296457.
- ^ a b Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. pp. 201–202. ISBN 9780646562322.
- ^ "Caladenia ixioides". APNI. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
- ^ "Cyanicula ixioides". APNI. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Cyanicula ixioides". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.