Sarcochilus (Sarcochilus)
Description
Sarcochilus, commonly known as butterfly orchids or fairy bells is a genus of about twenty five species of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and which are found in Australia and New Caledonia. Butterfly orchids are mostly epiphytes but a few species grow on rocks or in leaf litter. The leaves are arranged disticiously and not originating from a pseudobulb. The axillary, racemose inflorescence is pendant to arching with a few to many, successive opening flowers with free petals and sepals. The colour of the flowers is variable and goes from pure white (S. falcatus) to white and red (S. fitzgeraldii). The trilobed, fleshy labellum is saccate ( = pouch-like) and articulate to the apex of the column foot. The large side lobes are erect and curved. The small midlobe is attached to a short spur. Some of these species can form keikis, forming large clumps with age.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class:
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Order: Asparagales
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Family: Orchidaceae
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Genus: Sarcochilus
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