Cooktown orchid
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| Dendrobium phalaenopsis Clements |
The Cooktown Orchid has been the floral emblem of Queensland since November 19, 1959.[1] Its scientific name is Dendrobium phalaenopsis, a recently created species after Clements reorganised the Dendrobium bigibbum complex. The old name, Dendrobium bigibbum var. superbum is still recognised as a synonym. The Queensland, in preparation for its 1959 Centenary, sought advice what native species would be a good floral emblem. Specifically, the government was looking for a easily grown species found only in Queensland, which was decorative, distinctive, and close to the State colour, maroon. The Cooktown Orchid, which meets these criteria, was one of the four initial suggestions, the others being the Red Silky Oak (Grevillea banksii), the Umbrella Tree (Brassaia (now Schefflera) actinophylla), and the Wheel-of-Fire (Stenocarpus sinuatus). The Courier-Mail, a Brisbane newspaper, sought additional suggestions from its readers, and compiled a list of 13 possibilities. In a public poll, the Cooktown Orchid came in first place, the Red Silky Oak in second, and poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), already the floral emblem of the capital city Brisbane, came in third.[2]
References
- ^ Badge, Arms, Floral and Other Emblems of Queensland Act 1959: 2 Floral emblem (PDF) pp. 5. Office of Queensland Parliamentary Counsel (Reprinted 1997-12-10.). Retrieved on 2006-09-11. Not an authorised copy.
- ^ Boden, Anne (1995). Cooktown Orchid (Dendrobium phalaenopsis) - Floral Emblem of Queensland. Floral Emblems of Australia. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Originally published by AGPS. Retrieved on 2006-09-08.
External links
- Charles and Margaret Baker (originally printed November 1996). Dendrobium Species Culture: Part 2 - Dendrobium phalaenopsis. Charles and Margaret Baker. Retrieved on 2006-09-11.
Categories
Orchids of Australia | Orchid species | Queensland