EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Tongue Orchid (Dockrillia linguiformis) [= Dendrobium linguiforme]
Queensland, Australia

Explanation:  This delicate and beautiful orchid is often found festooning old trees in rainforests of northern Queensland, Australia.  Its miniature fragrant blooms appear in the fall and winter. 

Like most arboreal (tree-dwelling) orchids, this is an epiphyte, a plant that grows on other plants (although sometimes it also grows on rocks as a lithophyte).  In fact, the older genus name, Dendrobium, means tree (dendron) - life (bios) in Greek.  

The genus Dockrillia has 28 species found in Australia and New Guinea.  This particular species -- tongue orchid -- is sold as a cultivare and is strictly east Australian.