Corybas unguiculatus

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Small helmet orchid
Corybas unguiculatus.jpg
Corybas unguiculatus on Wilsons Promontory
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Corybas
Species:
C. unguiculatus
Binomial name
Corybas unguiculatus
Synonyms [1]

Corybas unguiculatus, commonly known as the small helmet orchid or pelicans, [2] is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a widespread, sometimes common but small orchid with a single leaf and a single reddish purple to reddish black flower.

Contents

Description

Corybas unguiculatus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with a single egg-shaped, heart-shaped or round leaf 5–30 mm (0.2–1 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) wide. The leaf is greyish green on the upper surface and reddish on the lower side. There is a single reddish purple to reddish black flower which leans downward almost touching the ovary and 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long. The flower stem is 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long with a bract about 5 mm (0.2 in) long just below the ovary. The dorsal sepal is spoon-shaped and bulbous, 13–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long, 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide and smaller than the labellum. The lateral sepals are white, narrow linear, 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and the petals are similar but only half as long. The labellum is about 15 mm (0.6 in) long, entirely purple and tube-shaped with the opening pointing downwards and forwards and about 6 mm (0.2 in) wide. There are a few small teeth on the edge of the labellum. Flowering occurs from May to August. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy

The small helmet orchid was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown, who gave it the name Corysanthes unguiculata and published the description in his book Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen . [6] [7] In 1871 Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach changed the name to Corybas unguiculatus. [8] The specific epithet (unguiculatus) is a Latin word meaning "hooved". [9]

Distribution and habitat

Corybas unguiculatus is a widespread, sometimes common species which grows in heath and heathy forest. It occurs in New South Wales south from Gosford, in southern Victoria, in the far south-east of South Australia and in Tasmania. [2] [3] [4]

Conservation

Although sometimes common in other states, C. unguiculatus is listed as "rare" in South Australia. The main threats to the species in that state are habitat loss, grazing by slugs and snails and weed invasion. [10]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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<i>Pterostylis squamata</i>

Pterostylis squamata, commonly known as the southern rustyhood or ruddyhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. Flowering plants have up to ten translucent green flowers with reddish-brown markings and a hairy, insect-like labellum. Non-flowering plants have a rosette of four to eight egg-shaped leaves. This species is very similar to Pterostylis rufa which has a narrower labellum and other minor differences.

<i>Pterostylis rufa</i>

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Prasophyllum australe, commonly known as the southern leek orchid or austral leek orchid, is a species of orchid and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to fifty scented, greenish-brown flowers with red stripes.

<i>Prasophyllum flavum</i>

Prasophyllum flavum, commonly known as the yellow leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single tubular, green leaf with only a short free section and up to fifty scented, yellowish-green flowers.

Prasophyllum macrostachyum, commonly known as the laughing leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single smooth, tube-shaped leaf and up to thirty yellowish-green and purple flowers. It is one of the few Western Australian leek orchids which is not stimulated by summer fires and also has an unusually long flowering period.

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

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<i>Prasophyllum striatum</i>

Prasophyllum striatum, commonly known as the streaked leek orchid or eastern hunchback orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin, tube-shaped leaf and up to ten greenish and whitish flowers with reddish or purplish stripes. It differs from other leek orchids in having a very thin leaf and prominently streaked flowers.

Genoplesium rufum, commonly known as the rufous midge-orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin, wiry leaf and up to twenty five drooping, pinkish or reddish flowers on a flowering stem which is fused to the lower part of the leaf. It was formerly thought to range from Queensland to South Australia and Tasmania but specimens in other states are now assigned to Genoplesium clivicola.

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<i>Chiloglottis diphylla</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Corybas fimbriatus</i> Species of orchid

Corybas fimbriatus, commonly known as the fringed helmet orchid, is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a broad egg-shaped to round leaf and a dark reddish purple to crimson flower with translucent patches. It is similar to C. hispidus but its labellum lacks a creamy-white centre and is not covered with bristly hairs.

Corybas fordhamii, commonly known as the banded helmet orchid or swamp helmet orchid, is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has an egg-shaped to heart-shaped leaf and a reddish to reddish purple flower which leans forward. It is similar to C. unguiculatis which does not grow in swamps and has a different labellum.

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

Calochilus campestris, commonly known as the copper beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single fleshy, channelled leaf and up to fifteen pale green and red flowers with a purple "beard".

References

  1. 1 2 "Corybas unguiculatus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 167. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 Jones, David L. "Corybas unguiculatus". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 Jeanes, Jeff. "Corybas unguiculatus". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  5. "Corybas unguiculatus". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  6. "Corysanthes unguiculata". APNI. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  7. brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 328. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  8. "Corybas unguiculatus". APNI. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  9. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 545.
  10. "Threatened species profile - Corybas unguiculatus" (PDF). Government of South Australia Department for Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 11 May 2018.