Today's photograph is shared by Ron Long, again from his recent trip to Western Australia. Thanks Ron!
When Ron sent along the photograph, he added the following: "There has been a great deal of imagination applied to choosing common names for many Australian orchids. This one is called Cossack dancer and having learned that I can't help but laugh every time look at this picture."
While the common name is plenty descriptive and stable, the scientific name for this orchid has been rather fluid recently. It seems like it has settled on Jonesiopsis dorrienii, but other publications / people continue to use Caladenia dorrienii (or here and here) or Calonema dorrienii. Whatever its name, it is listed as endangered in Western Australia (where it is endemic). The morphological diversity of this group of orchids can be viewed on this page, just bear in mind that the names may not be current.
I should also point out that the flower of this species is (classically, for orchids) resupinate, in contrast to the flower of Cryptostylis erecta
Hmm, I never knew orchids grew in Australia! Amazing!
I was recently in Western Australia also and saw many orchids (but not this specific one) as well as Stylidium/Drosera/Utricularia etc. Amazing place for plants.
Exquisite. Thank you
WOW!!! This is a wonderful Christmas Gift. Thank you.
What a little beauty, and so perfectly named!!!
a merry christmas to every one from florida usa
thank you daniel i can see the above spun
in glass and trimming
a christmas tree
merry christmas to daniel and company
Just amazing, you chuckle just looking at it.
This is yet another photo I will add to my picture file. Thanks Daniel!!!!
I'm pleased that everyone is enjoying the Cossack Dancer and I really like the Christmas ornament idea.
Australia has so many Orchids that they really don't know how many. With new species still being described, splitters and genetic researchers working overtime and just plain disagreements the nomenclature is a mess as Daniel indicated. Personally I'm a lumper.I try not to let naming details get in the way of the basic pleasure I get from wildflowers. There will be more Orchids coming in the future.
As for Stylidium, Drosera etc - just wait. I've got dozens of them.
What a lovely treasure. Thank you.
yes to the ornament suggestion...and proceeds of purchases could augment this lovely site and the safeguarding of all that is precious and amazing..as those who care we could make such items in our various mediums of expression, and make those available through a special link... i am just wond'ring......i am a novice but would do what i can to assist...papiermache', fabrics, threads, blown glass, natural elements ....
an icy blast of joy from northern PA to all of you...
"Jonesiopsis" means "resembling Jones" . . . presumably it was named after a cossack dancer named Jones?? ;-)
Jones is an Australian botanist and a splitter. He has been working at dividing the genus Caladenia into several others.I'm not sure how he managed to get a new genus that he apparently created named for himself.
I like the "Cossack named Jones" interpretation better.
I think all that is required for reorganisation is a peer-reviewed publication. A problem as some peers are better than others. A question that I have is for splitting how different do the groups have to be ? It all seems rather arbitrary. There is a nomenclature board that can override anything that is shown to be stupid.
Excellent photo.
Checked up in IPNI, Jonesiopsis was described in 2001 by a Polish botanist named Dariusz Szlachetko, with a single species Jonesiopsis multiclavia. Jones then later (2003) transferred a whole lot of other species to this genus.
I backed up from the Caladenia link given in the writeup and found the most marvelous gallery of ALL the groups of Australian orchids (well, I guess it's all the groups -- lots and lots of groups anyway). Drat, I've forgotten the tags I need to make this clickable:
http://www.webace.com.au/~chook/orchids/index.html
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Yes, let's by all means bury the odious namer of species after himself and raise "Jones" as Jones the Cossack!
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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL
Yes! You can really imagine the crossed arms and the kicking legs!
A lovely flower.