Sarcochilus spathulatus R.S. Rogers 1927 Photo courtesy ofGreg and Kerri Steenbeeke and their Orkology Kreations Website

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Common Name The Sheath Covered Spathe Sarcochilus - The Small Butterfly Orchid

Flower Size 1/4 to 3/8" [1 to 1.5 cm]

A rare epiphyte occuring on the outer twigs of rainforest trees along river courses in Queensland and New South Wales Australia below elevations of 600 meters with a short stem carrying 2 to 10, thin, leathery, often purple spotted leaves that blooms with an axillary, pendant, 3/4" to 2" [2 to 5 cm] long, racemose, several [5] flowered inflorescence with fragrant flowers occuring in the late winter and spring. Mount this cool to warm growing species on a twig and give high humidity, and good air circulation.

Synonyms Parasarcochilus spathulatus (R.S. Rogers) Dockr. 1967; Pteroceras spathulatum (R.S. Rogers) Garay 1972; Sarcochilus harriganiae Rupp 1938

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Australian Orchid Review Vol 70 No 5 2005; Australian Orchid Review Vol 71 No 5 2006 photo; Native Orchids of Australia Jones 2006; Australian Orchid Review Vol 72 No 1 2007 photo

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