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Davejonesia aurantiacopurpurea (Nicholls) M.A.Clem., Orchadian 13(11): 487 (2002).
Dendrobium aurantiaco-purpureum Nicholls, North Queensland Naturalist 10(68): 2 (1942); Dendrobium lichenastrum var. prenticei forma aurantiaco-purpureum (Nicholls) Dockrill, North Queensland Naturalist 24(115): 20 (1956). Type: Mt. Fox, Burdekin River via Ingham, Dec. 1941, A. Glindeman s.n. (holo MEL).
Occurs in north-eastern Queensland from Mount Lewis, near Mossman, to Mount Spec near Ingham.
Altitude: 100-1200 m.
Epiphytic or lithophytic herb forming spreading mats. Rhizome creeping, appressed to host, branching, 2-3 mm wide, sheathed in papery bracts. Pseudobulbs absent. Leaves prostrate to obliquely erect, apical, alternate, sessile; lamina ovate to obovate, angular, flattened, 1.5-2.5 cm x 0.5-0.8 cm, dark green, fleshy, apex obtuse to acute. Inflorescence axillary, single-flowered, from rhizome nodes; pedicels 10-15 mm long, thin. Flowers solitary, resupinate, erect, 4-5 mm x 5-7 mm, pink or mauve with orange to red stripes and yellow to orange labellum. Sepals and petals spreading widely, thin-textured. Dorsal sepal obliquely erect, ovate, 4-5 mm x 2-2.5 mm. Lateral sepals divergent, triangular, 4-5 mm x 4 mm, bases fused to column foot. Petals much narrower than sepals, obliquely erect, linear, 4-5 mm x 0.5 mm, apex obtuse. Labellum oblong, 7 mm x 2 mm, fleshy, obscurely lobed, basal margins thickened. Column short, 1 mm long, nearly straight, with 2 apical stelidia. Column foot curved, 3 mm long, at right-angles to column. Capsules erect, dehiscent.
Occurs in protected, humid sites in forests where it grows on trees, rocks, boulders and cliff faces. It also frequently colonises remnant trees in paddocks. The flowers last for only a few days and are pollinated by small native bees.
Locally common.
Flowering period: Sporadic throughout the year.
Until recently known as Dendrobium lichenastrum forma aurantiaco-purpureum.
