Dockrillia rigida (R BR.] Rauschert 1983 SECTION Rhizobium Photo by © Cheryl M LeBlanc and the Wheeler Orchid Collection at BSU
Another View Photos by © Jay Pfahl
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Common Name The Rigid-Leafed Dockrillia - The Smooth Tongue Orchid - The Smooth Tick Orchid
Flower Size 3/8" [1 to 1.5 cm]
This succulent like plant comes from Queensland Australia and New Guinea at elevations below 700 meters in low hilly inland ranges, low savannahs, rainforests and mangroves and is a definite, hot to warm growing, miniature epiphyte with much branching, erect, drooping or pendulous, 1 to 3 noded stems carrying a single apical, fleshy, ovate or obovate, apiculate, acute or obtuse leaf. It blooms through the winter and spring on a 2" or less [5 cm or less] long, one to six flowered inflorescence that has tiny yellow and orange, heavily scented, inverted flowers. This species is best mounted on tree fern or cork to accomodate the pendant growth habit. Water heavily from spring through fall and then slack off for a drier winter. Watch for slugs and snails they seem to be attracted to the fleshy psuedobulbs.
Synonyms Callista rigida [R. Br.] O. Ktze. 1891; Dendrobium desmotrichoides J.J.Sm. 1908; Dendrobium rigidum R. Brown 1810; Dockrillia desmotrichoides (J.J.Sm.) Brieger 1981
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; AOS Bulletin Vol 63 No 1 1994 photo; Flora Malesiana Orchids of New Guinea Vol II Shuiteman and de Vogel 2002 as Dendrobium rigidum; Native Orchids of Australia Jones 2006; AOS Bulletin Vol 77 No 11 2008
