Mallee midge orchid | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
Tribe: | Diurideae |
Genus: | Genoplesium |
Species: | G. nigricans |
Binomial name | |
Genoplesium nigricans | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Genoplesium nigricans, commonly known as mallee midge orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Australia. It is a terrestrial herb with a single leaf mostly surrounding the stem, and up to 50 tiny, greenish flowers with a deep maroon-coloured labellum and often have a fruity fragrance. Australian authorities use the name Corunastylis tepperi, a widespread species which has been confused with Corunastylis nigricans , a species with purplish brown flowers and which only occurs on Kangaroo Island and the Eyre Peninsula. [2]
Genoplesium nigricans is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb. A single long leaf surrounds the stem from the base of the plant to the lowest of the flowers. The leaf is 80–250 mm (3–10 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The inflorescence is a spike with from 5 to 50 crowded, tiny, non-resupinate flowers which are bright green with a dark maroon-coloured to purplish-black labellum. Each flower is pendulous, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and long with petals and sepals that do not spread widely. The dorsal sepal is a broad egg-shape, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and wide. The two lateral sepals are lance-shaped, 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and dished near their base. The petals are egg-shaped, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and less than 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. The dark-coloured labellum is egg-shaped, about the same size as the petals with a minutely wavy edge. The callus is narrow egg-shaped and extends almost to the tip of the labellum. The column, which is below the labellum has wings with a rough surface. Flowering occurs between February and May and the fruit that follows is a non-fleshy, dehiscent capsule containing hundreds of seeds. [2] [5]
In 1880, Otto Temper, a South Australian school teacher, reported to the Royal Society of South Australia, the discovery he had made of an orchid "in respect of which Baron F. v. Mueller, has done me the honour of naming it Prasophyllum Tepperi". [6] [7] Tepper's description was formalised by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1882 with the name published in Systematic Census of Australian Plants . [8] [9]
In 2002, David Jones and Mark Clements changed the name of Prasophyllum tepperi to Corunastylis tepperi. [1] The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families lists C. tepperi as a synonym of Genoplesium nigricans. [10] The specific epithet (tepperi) honours Otto Tepper [7] and the epithet nigricans is a Latin word meaning "blackish". [11]
Corunastylis nigricans , a different species, sometimes confused with Genoplesium nigricans or Corunastylis tepperi, has purplish brown flowers with green markings and a shiny, dark purplish labellum and only occurs in parts of South Australia. [2]
The mallee midge orchid occurs in arid areas of north-western Victoria, mostly in mallee shrubland and Callitris woodland, [2] and in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Hampton and Mallee biogeographic regions of southern Western Australia. [12] There are also isolated populations in South Australia. [13] It is a very drought and heat tolerant species which is dormant when the soil is hard-packed and dry, growing and flowering in the cooler, wetter autumn months.
This species appears to be pollinated by tiny fruit flies which are attracted by the scent of the flower at the same time as other plants, such as Leucopogon are flowering. [5] [14] [15]
Genoplesium plumosum, commonly known as the Tallong midge-orchid or plumed midge-orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It is a small orchid only known from a few sites near the towns of Tallong and Wingello on the Southern Tablelands and is only relatively easy to find for about a month, when it flowers. It has been classified as "Endangered" under the EPBC Act.
Corunastylis is a genus of about 50 species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Commonly called midge orchids or pygmy orchids, they are terrestrial, deciduous, perennial, tuberous herbs found in Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. They are similar to orchids in the genus Genoplesium and have been included with them in the past.
Genoplesium nudum, commonly known as the tiny midge orchid in Australia or the red midge orchid in New Zealand, is a small terrestrial orchid native to south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to forty small, reddish-purple or green and red flowers. Australian and New Zealand authorities use the name Corunastylis nuda but Genoplesium nudum and Prasophyllum transversum are used by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
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.
Genoplesium nudiscapum, commonly known as the bare midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty small, green and reddish-brown flowers. It was thought to be extinct, since it had not been seen since 1852 but was rediscovered in 2008. The species has also been described as occurring on continental Australia. Australian authorities use the name Corunastylis nudiscapa for the Tasmanian endemic but Genoplesium nudiscapum is used by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
Genoplesium filiforme, commonly known as the glandular midge orchid is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to the east coast of Australia. It has a single thin leaf and up to thirty greenish to purple flowers with a reddish-purple labellum. The edges of its flower parts are covered with many short glandular hairs. It is found from southern Queensland to southern New South Wales.
Genoplesium morrisii, commonly known as the bearded midge orchid and known as Corunastylis morrisii in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to fifteen small, dark purplish-black or green and purple flowers.
Corunastylis nigricans, commonly known as the Kangaroo Island midge orchid is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to South Australia. It has a single thin leaf and up to twenty five purplish brown flowers with a shiny, hairless, dark purplish labellum. It is sometimes confused with Genoplesium nigricans which has differently coloured flowers and a much wider distribution. It is regarded as a synonym of G. nigricans by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
Genoplesium acuminatum, commonly known as the pointed midge orchid and as Corunastylis acuminata in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to sixteen small, hairy, greenish purple to brownish purple flowers. It is found in coastal and near-coastal parts of New South Wales and Queensland.
Genoplesium archeri, commonly known as the elfin midge orchid and as Corunastylis archeri in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to fifteen small, hairy, yellowish green flowers with purple stripes. It grows in a wide range of habitats in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Corunastylis ciliata, commonly known as the fringed midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to southern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to fifteen small, green to greenish yellow flowers with purplish markings and a reddish purple labellum. It was formerly included with Corunastylis archeri, and C. ciliata is regarded as a synonym of Genoplesium archeri by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Plants in this species have fewer, more erect flowers, a less-hairy labellum and have different coloration than C. archeri.
Genoplesium firthii, commonly known as Firth's midge orchid and as Corunastylis firthii in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to six small, yellowish green or reddish flowers with a red labellum. It grows in coastal heath and scrub and is currently known only from a single population of about twelve plants near Coles Bay.
Genoplesium insigne, commonly known as the dark midge orchid or Wyong midge orchid, and as Corunastylis insignis in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid which is endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf and up to twelve dark purple to dark reddish purple flowers. It is mostly found in heath on the Central Coast and only around fifty plants survive.
Genoplesium pedersonii, commonly known as Pederson's midge orchid, is a 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.
Genoplesium sagittiferum, commonly known as the horned midge orchid and as Corunastylis sagittifera in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to ten small, yellowish-green flowers with a hairy reddish labellum.
Genoplesium vernale, commonly known as the spring midge orchid or East Lynne midge orchid is a small terrestrial orchid which is endemic to a small area on the south coast of New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf and up to twenty five dark purplish-black flowers with tiny glandular hairs on the sepals and petals.
Genoplesium simulans, commonly known as the Blue Mountains midge orchid is a small terrestrial orchid which is endemic to New South Wales, where it mainly occurs in the Blue Mountains. It has a single thin leaf and up to twenty three dark purplish-black flowers which lean downwards.
Genoplesium tasmanicum, commonly known as the Tasmanian midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid which is endemic to Tasmania. It has a single thin leaf and up to twenty five dark purplish-black and green flowers. It is widespread and common at lower altitudes.
Genoplesium validum, commonly known as the Blackdown midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid 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.
Corunastylis densa, commonly known as the dense midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty five densely crowded reddish-brown to dark purplish-brown flowers. It is found between the New England National Park and the Moroka River.