There are more than one hundred species of orchids in Hong Kong. Most of these species are very rare and some even went locally extinct.
Goodyera procera is one of the exceptions, it is locally common and could be found in many streams or wet places. Maybe since the species doesn't have large flowers nor ornamental value, it escaped from illegal orchid collection and remained widely distributed.
Flora of Hong Kong described the ecology of the species as growing in 'earth pockets on rocks in stream bed'. This is indeed a very accurate description of where the species could be found.
G. procera does not have a psuedobulb nor does it have thickened roots. It has an erect stem and does not possess a creeping rhizome. Maybe since the species is found near streams, water is ample and the plant does not have to store up water in root tissues. Small white flowers clustered on a terminal raceme could be found in spring (
Flora of Hong Kong: Mar. to Apr.) The following pictures are taken in April in Ma On Shan Country Park.
 |
| Population |
 |
| Growing in earth pockets of streams |
 |
| Leaves |
 |
| Abaxial surface of leafe |
 |
| Terminal raceme |
 |
| Flowers, showing typical orchid flower structure |
 |
| Flowers |
 |
| Base of plants with roots that are not thickened, stems upright |
No comments:
Post a Comment