Acianthus collinus

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Hooded mosquito orchid
Acianthus collinus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Acianthus
Species:
A. collinus
Binomial name
Acianthus collinus
Flower detail Acianthus collinus labellum.jpg
Flower detail

Acianthus collinus, commonly known as hooded mosquito orchid [2] or inland mosquito orchid, [3] is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a terrestrial herb with a single, heart-shaped leaf and between two and nine translucent pinkish flowers with reddish markings and is found growing in colonies on sheltered slopes in open forest in on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range.

Contents

Description

Acianthus collinus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb with a single heart-shaped, glabrous, dark green leaf which is reddish-purple on its lower surface. The leaf is 15–32 mm (0.6–1 in) long, 14–30 mm (0.6–1 in) wide on a stalk 3–6 cm (1–2 in) high. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

There are between two and nine flowers well-spaced on a thin raceme 6–15 cm (2–6 in) tall, each flower 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide, translucent pink with reddish veins and markings and forms a hood over the column. The central vein extends about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) beyond the end of the labellum. The lateral sepals are 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, about 1.3 mm (0.05 in) wide, linear to lance-shaped, pinkish with a red stripe down the centre and usually cross each other below the labellum. The petals are a similar colour and are about 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, narrow egg-shaped to lance-shaped and spread widely. The labellum is dark purplish-red to purplish-maroon, 5.5–6.0 mm (0.22–0.24 in) wide, 3.0–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) wide, roughly heart-shaped when flattened, the edges curled under with irregular teeth. The thick, fleshy callus covering most of the central area is dark, purplish red and has many small pimple-like papillae on the outer half. Flowering occurs from late June to August and the capsule that follows is 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 2.0–3.0 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide and is straight or slightly curved. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

This species is distinguished from the similar Acianthus fornicatus by its translucent pinkish flowers, narrower petals and narrower dorsal sepal. [4] It was not known in Victoria before 1999 where it is now known to occur in two or three places with populations containing hundreds of plants. It is easily overlooked and may occur elsewhere in the region. It is easily distinguished in Victoria by its broad sepal. [6]

Taxonomy and naming

Acianthus collinus was first formally described by David Jones in 1991 and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research from specimens he found with Mark Clements in the Conimbla National Park. [8] [4] The specific epithet (collinus) is a Latin word meaning "growing on a hill" [9] referring to the usual habitat of this species. [4] In a 1995 paper published in the journal Allertonia, Paul Kores claimed that A. collinus and 3 other species are not distinct from A. fornicatus and should be regarded as a synonyms. [10] That position has been adopted by Plants of the World Online. [11]

Distribution and habitat

This orchid grows in colonies, usually on gently sloping hillsides in open forest. [4] It is found in the Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Central West Slopes of New South Wales, Black Mountain in the ACT and the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park in Victoria. [4] [6] [2] [12]

Conservation

This orchid is listed as "vulnerable" in the Victorian Government Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1998). [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Acianthus</i> Genus of flowering plants

Acianthus, commonly known as mosquito orchids, is a genus of about twelve species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Mosquito orchids are terrestrial herbs with a single, heart-shaped, usually ground-hugging leaf and one to many small, green, pinkish or purplish flowers on a fleshy stalk. They are found in New Caledonia, Australia and New Zealand.

<i>Acianthus fornicatus</i> Species of flowering plant

Acianthus fornicatus, commonly known as bristly mosquito orchid or pixie caps, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a terrestrial herb with a single, heart-shaped leaf and up to ten translucent pinkish-red flowers, and is widespread and common in coastal and near-coastal areas.

<i>Acianthus apprimus</i> Species of flowering plant

Acianthus apprimus, commonly known as early mosquito orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. It is a terrestrial herb with a single, heart-shaped leaf and between two and nine translucent pinkish flowers with reddish markings and is found in disjunct populations around the state.

Acianthus borealis, commonly known as northern mosquito orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Queensland in Australia. It is a glabrous, terrestrial herb with a single, heart-shaped leaf and between two and twenty transparent pinkish flowers with reddish markings and is widely distributed on the eastern tablelands.

<i>Acianthus exiguus</i> Species of flowering plant

Acianthus exiguus, commonly known as tiny mosquito orchid, is a flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. It is a terrestrial herb with a single, heart-shaped leaf and up to five translucent greenish-white flowers with pinkish markings and is found growing in forests on the north coast of the state.

<i>Acianthus exsertus</i> Species of flowering plant

Acianthus exsertus, commonly known as gnat orchid or large mosquito orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a terrestrial herb with a single, heart-shaped leaf and up to 25 small, fine, dark brown flowers with pinkish and purplish markings and is found growing in sheltered places in forests in Queensland, New South Wales the ACT and Victoria.

<i>Acianthus pusillus</i> Species of flowering plant

Acianthus pusillus, commonly known as small mosquito orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a terrestrial herb with a single, heart-shaped leaf and up to 18 small, translucent green or pinkish flowers with reddish marking and a green to reddish-purple labellum. It is widely distributed, growing in moist places from central-eastern Queensland, south through New South Wales and Victoria to South Australia and Tasmania.

<i>Caladenia amoena</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia amoena, commonly known as charming spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae, and is endemic to Victoria, Australia. It is a ground orchid which grows singly or in small groups, has a single dark green, hairy leaf and a single yellowish-green flower with red stripes. It is only known from a few sites and has been classified as Endangered.

<i>Prasophyllum montanum</i> Species of orchid

Prasophyllum montanum, commonly known as the mountain leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to fifty scented, greenish to pinkish flowers. It grows in montane ecosystems at altitudes above 1,500 m (5,000 ft).

<i>Prasophyllum dossenum</i> Species of orchid

Prasophyllum dossenum is a species of orchid endemic to a small area of northern New South Wales. It has a single tubular, dark green leaf and up to thirty scented pinkish-white and greenish-brown flowers crowded along an erect flowering stem. It is a rare orchid which grows in grassy places on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.

<i>Acianthus caudatus</i> Species of flowering plant

Acianthus caudatus, commonly known as mayfly orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a terrestrial herb with a single egg-shaped or heart-shaped leaf and up to nine dark purplish flowers with thin, spreading sepals and petals, often with a musty odour.

Genoplesium pedersonii, commonly known as Pederson's midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid endemic to the Blackdown Tableland in Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to thirty small, greenish red to reddish, self-pollinating flowers with a dark purplish red labellum. The species is treated as Corunastylis pedersonii in Queensland.

Genoplesium validum, commonly known as the Blackdown midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to the Blackdown Tableland National Park in Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to thirty five greenish-brown flowers with reddish stripes and a hairy labellum. This species is treated as Corunastylis valida in Queensland.

Corybas globulus is a species of helmet orchid endemic to a small area of the New England Tableland in northern New South Wales. It is a relatively small orchid with a bright green, heart-shaped leaf and a bulbous, dark reddish purple flower.

Chiloglottis trullata, commonly known as the triangular ant orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Queensland, Australia. It has two dark green leaves and a single small, green or pinkish flower with a shiny, dark reddish black, insect-like callus surrounded by reddish club-shaped calli covering most of the upper surface of the labellum.

Arthrochilus oreophilus, commonly known as montane elbow orchid, is a flowering plant in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) and is endemic to higher places in far north Queensland. It has a rosette of leaves at its base and up to fifteen green, insect-like flowers with dark reddish brown glands on its labellum.

<i>Calochilus therophilus</i> Species of orchid

Calochilus therophilus, commonly known as the late beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single channelled, dark green leaf with a reddish base and up to fifteen dull greenish flowers with bold red stripes. The labellum has a dark purplish beard with two "eye" spots. Unlike that of other beard orchids, there is no prominent ridge between the eye spots.

<i>Acianthus cuneatus</i> Species of flowering plant

Acianthus cuneatus, commonly known as New England mosquito orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. It is a terrestrial herb with a single, heart-shaped leaf and up to seven translucent greenish flowers with purplish stripes and is found growing in sheltered slopes in open forest.

Acianthus ledwardii was a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and was endemic to Queensland in Australia but is now presumed extinct. It was a terrestrial herb with a single, heart-shaped leaf and between 2 and 6 transparent, reddish brown flowers.

<i>Acianthus saxatilis</i> Species of flowering plant

Acianthus saxatilis is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a terrestrial herb with a single, relatively large, heart-shaped leaf and usually up to 5 translucent greenish-brown to greenish-yellow flowers.

References

  1. "Acianthus collinus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L. "Acianthus collinus". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney:plantnet. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Copeland, Lachlan M.; Backhouse, Gary N. (2022). Guide to Native Orchids of NSW and ACT. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing. pp. 11–12. ISBN   9781486313686.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jones, David L. (1991). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 2: 6–7.
  5. 1 2 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 162. ISBN   1-877069-12-4.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Bishop, Anthony (1996). Field guide to the orchids of New South Wales and Victoria. Sydney: UNSW Press. p. 181. ISBN   086840375X.
  7. 1 2 3 Jeanes, Jeff. "Acianthus collinus". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  8. "Acianthus collinus". APNI. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  9. Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles. "collinus". A Latin Dictionary. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  10. Kores, Paul J. (1995). "A systematic study of the genus "Acianthus" (Orchidaceae: Diuridae)". Allertonia. 7 (3): 202.
  11. "Acianthus fornicatus". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  12. "Acianthus collinus". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 15 June 2016.