ORCHID GENUS DESCRIPTION

Rhinerrhiza Rupp
in Vict. Nat. 67: 206, Feb. 1951.

INTRODUCTION: At present three species belong to this genus, these are R. divitiflora (F. Muell. ex Benth.) Rupp from Australia, R. freemanii (Rchb. f.) Garay from Asia and R. moorei (Reichb.f.) M. Clements, B. Wallace and D. Jones, found in Australia and New Guinea. The latter species does not fit well in the genus and may be placed in a different genus in the future.

DERIVATION OF GENUS NAME: Established by the Rev. Herman M.R. Rupp in 1951 for a couple of Australian species originally included in the genus Sarcochilus R. Br. The name was derived from the Greek rhine = file and rhizos = root in reference to the papillose-rough surface of the roots of the species.

TYPE SPECIES: Sarcochilus divitiflorus F. Muell. ex Benth.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUS: Small, monopodial epiphytic herbs, belonging to the Phalaenopsis alliance. Their principal difference to the species in the genus Sarcochilus is in the technical details of their flowers and roots. The relatively large flowers, up to 45 or 50 on an inflorescence open simultaneously and are orange to red coloured, white centered, lasting only a couple of days. In the tropical lowland forests of Papua New Guinea one can find Rhinerrhiza moorei (syn. Sarcochilus moorei) which has dull yellow, spotted with maroon-brown, flowers.

NUMBER OF SPECIES IN NEW GUINEA: At least two species have been described for the Papuasian region. These are Sarcochilus ramuanus (Krzl.) Schltr. and Sarchochilus salomonensis Rolfe. Schlechter united these with Sarcochilus moorei (Reichb.f.) Schltr in 1928, and later transferred to it present position in 1988 by Clement et al. For the present one species R. moorei is recognised for New Guinea over which is is wide spread and often very common. There are several other entities from the islands that are being studied, which might prove to be new species.

HABITAT: Coastal forest on trees overhanging the sea and inland on other trees to mid-montane forest inhabiting tree tops and shrubs and small trees in the understory.

CONSERVATION STATUS: Not seriously threatened over its range.

SPECIES LINE DRAWING: Rhinerrhiza moorei (syn. Sarchochilus moorei (Rchb) Schlechter
drawn by Neville H.S. Howcroft
KEY TO ILLUSTRATION: A: plant habit with flower; B: flower

PHOTO: Rhinerrhiza moorei

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