Cepobaculum semifuscum

Fragrant Tea Tree Orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Dendrobieae
Subtribe:	Dendrobiinae
Genus:	Cepobaculum
Species:	C. semifuscum
Binomial name
Cepobaculum semifuscum (Rchb.f.) M.A.Clem. et D.L.Jones, Orchadian 13(11): 486 (2002).
Synonyms
Dendrobium semifuscum

C. semifuscum growing on Corymbia tessalaris bark. Cooktown.

C. semifuscum showing seed pods and flowers.

Cepobaculum semifuscum, Antelope Orchid, or Fragrant Tea Tree Orchid, is a species of Tea Tree Orchid of the genus Cepobaculum, which was segregated in 2002 from the genus Dendrobium.^[1][2]

Range

Cape York Peninsula, Queensland from the Iron Range to Cooktown, and on the west coast of the peninsula at 50-550 metres altitude. Also found in New Guinea.^[3]

Description

Common and widespread, this arboreal orchid grows especially on paper-barked or rough-barked trees in open forest, swampy areas and monsoonal thickets. The longlasting, sweet-smelling flowers (20-30 x 25-40 mm) bloom from July to November. The fragrant flowers yellowish or yellowish-brown, with darker stripes and tips, grow on spikes 300-400 mm long. Labellum purple to mauve with midlobe which is pale yellow to cream. Sepals strongly twisted, thick and shiny.^[4] The flowers appear in spring and last well and the petals are distinctively twisted.^[5]

The orchid needs good light. It grows well on a slab and needs a dry winter but frequent watering in summer.

C. semifuscum has, apparently, been frequently confused with Cepobaculum johannis. They are, however, easy to tell apart if flowering: C. semifuscum flowers in the spring while C. johannis flowers in the autumn. The former has a delightful scent, while the latter smells unpleasant.^[6]

Footnotes

1. ^ Jones (2006), pp. 380, 382.
2. ^ M. A. Clem. et D. L. Jones, Orchadian 13(11): 486 (2002)
3. ^ Jones (2006), p. 382.
4. ^ Jones (2006), p. 382.
5. ^ Beasley (2009), p. 77.
6. ^ Scarth-Johnson (2000), p. 154.

References

• Beasley, John. (2009). Plants of Cape York: The Compact Guide. John Beasley, Kuranda, Qld., Australia. ISBN 978-0-9806863-0-2.
• Jones, David L. (2006). A Complete Guide to the Native Orchids of Australia Including the Island Territories. Reed New Holland, Sydney. ISBN 1-877069-12-4.
• Scarth-Johnson, Vera (2000). National Treasures: Flowering Plants of Cooktown and Northern Australia. Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery Association Inc. Cooktown. ISBN 0646397265 (pbk); ISBN 0646397257 (leather bound).

External links

• AUSTRALIAN ORCHIDACEAE: CURRENT GENERA AND SPECIES LIST (13/6/2008)
• Australian Orchid Genera: Current Species List.