Tallong midge orchid | |
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Genoplesium plumosum near Goulburn | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
Tribe: | Diurideae |
Genus: | Genoplesium |
Species: | G. plumosum |
Binomial name | |
Genoplesium plumosum | |
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.
Genoplesium plumosum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb, usually with a few inconspicuous, fine roots and a pair of more or less spherical tubers. The tubers are partly covered by a protective fibrous sheath which extends to the soil surface. There is a single cylindrical, glabrous leaf fused to the flowering stem. The leaf is 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long and the part which is free from the stem is 15–30 mm (0.6–1 in) long and ends below the flowers. The leaf of flowering plants is solid but the leaves on plants without flowers are hollow. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The inflorescence is a spike 10–30 mm (0.4–1 in) tall, with between one and eight, non-resupinate flowers. The flowers are more or less pendulous, moderately crowded, 8 mm × 5 mm (0.3 in × 0.2 in), greenish with purple stripes and have a purplish-red labellum. The dorsal sepal is narrowly egg-shaped, 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide, dished on the lower surface with smooth edges and a pointed tip. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 7.5–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and diverge from each other. The petals are narrow egg-shaped, 5.5–6.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide with a long, pointed tip. The labellum is above the column and stiffly hinged to it, and is oblong, about 5 mm (0.2 in) long, 2 mm (0.08 in) wide with hairy edges and a pointed tip. The callus is narrow egg-shaped to lance-shaped and extends nearly to the tip of the labellum. Flowering usually occurs 4 to 6 weeks following summer or autumn rainfall. The fruit is a non-fleshy, dehiscent capsule containing hundreds of seeds. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The first formal description of Prasophyllum plumosum was by Herman Rupp in 1942 from a specimen found near Kurnell and the description was published in The Victorian Naturalist. [6] [7] In 1989, David Jones and Mark Clements placed it and most other species of Prasophyllum into Genoplesium. [1] In 2002 Jones and Clements have proposed moving all but one of Genoplesium back to Corunastylis but the move has not been widely accepted. [8] [9]
The specific epithet (plumosum) is a Latin word meaning "feathered". [10]
Tallong midge-orchid grows among low shrubs in forest and in moss gardens over sandstone mainly between Sydney Harbour and Marulan. [4]
Genoplesium plumosum has not been observed at the type location for more than 80 years and is now only known from a total area of 20 km2 (8 sq mi) and with a total population estimated in 2008 to be between 250 and 280 plants near Tallong and Wingello with a few individual plants in the Morton National Park. The main reasons for its decline have been land clearing and grazing by the introduced European Rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ). The species is now listed as "Critically Endangered" in terms of the EPBC Act. [11] [5]
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 commonly known as midge orchids, is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is found in Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. Midge orchids are terrestrial herbs with a single leaf at the base of the plant. They are similar to orchids in the genus Prasophyllum in that plants without flowers have a hollow, onion-like leaf. The flowers are small but often scented and attractive to their insect pollinators. There is disagreement about which species belong to this genus and some taxonomists suggest that most belong in the genus Corunastylis.
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.
Prasophyllum bagoense, commonly known as the Bago leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area of southern New South Wales. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to thirty scented, pale tawny green flowers on a flowering stem. It grows in subalpine grassland in a single population near Tumbarumba.
Prasophyllum caudiculum, commonly known as the Guyra leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area of northern New South Wales. It has a single tubular, bright green leaf and up to thirty five greenish to reddish-brown flowers crowded along an erect flowering stem. It grows in grassy places near Guyra.
Genoplesium woollsii, commonly known as the dark midge-orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin, wiry leaf and in autumn has up to thirty five drooping, dark purple flowers on a flowering stem which is fused to the lower part of the leaf.
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 species of 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. The species is known as Corunastylis nudiscapa in Tasmania.
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.
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.
Genoplesium baueri, commonly known as the brittle midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid which is endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf and up to nine yellowish green to reddish brown flowers. It is mostly only found in coastal and near-coastal heath and woodland between Port Stephens and Ulladulla.
Genoplesium firthii, commonly known as Firth's midge orchid, is a species of 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 parvicallum, commonly known as the mountain-top midge-orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to Queensland. It is a small orchid with up to twenty five greenish flowers with purplish brown marking and is only known from mountaintops in the McPherson Range. It is treated as Corunastylis parvicalla in Queensland.
Genoplesium pumilum, commonly known as the green midge orchid in Australia, and the yellow gumland leek 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 twenty five green to yellowish-green flowers which sometimes have red markings. Australian and New Zealand authorities use the name Corunastylis pumila.
Genoplesium rhyoliticum, commonly known as the Pambula midge-orchid or rhyolite midge orchid and as Corunastylis rhyolitica in Australia, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It is a small orchid with up to eighteen dark, purplish-black flowers and is only known from six sites on the south coast where it grows in shallow soil over rhyolite.
Genoplesium ruppii, commonly known as Rupp's midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty five small, hairy green flowers with a purple labellum.
Genoplesium sagittiferum, commonly known as the horned midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is 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 superbum, commonly known as the pink midge orchid or superb midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf and up to fifteen dark pinkish-purple flowers which lean downwards. It is listed as "endangered" in New South Wales because of its limited distribution and disturbance of its habitat.
Genoplesium superbum, commonly known as the Kangarooby midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf and up to thirty two hairy, light reddish flowers which lean downwards and have a dark purple labellum.