Genoplesium stephensonii

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Genoplesium stephensonii
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: Genoplesium
Species:
G. stephensonii
Binomial name
Genoplesium stephensonii
Synonyms [1]

Corunastylis stephensonii D.L.Jones

Genoplesium stephensonii, commonly known as Stephenson's midge orchid, [2] is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to the south-east of New South Wales. It has a single leaf fused to the flowering stem and usually up to five green flowers with pink to reddish markings.

Contents

Description

Genoplesium stephensonii is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single cylindrical leaf 100–180 mm (3.9–7.1 in) long, sheathing the flowering stem with the free part 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long and about 2 mm (0.079 in) wide. Usually up to five, sometimes up to eight green flowers with pink to reddish markings are arranged along a flowering stem 110–200 mm (4.3–7.9 in) long. The flowers are 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and about 5.5 mm (0.22 in) wide. As with others in the genus, the flowers are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is broadly egg-shaped and forms a hood over the column, 4.5–5.0 mm (0.18–0.20 in) long and about 3.5 mm (0.14 in) wide with red markings. The lateral sepals are linear, 5.0–5.5 mm (0.20–0.22 in) long, about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide, and spread apart but lack a humped base. The petals are egg-shaped, 4.3–4.6 mm (0.17–0.18 in) long and about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide with red edges and three red stripes along the centre. The labellum is egg-shaped, about 4.3 mm (0.17 in) long and 2.6 mm (0.10 in) wide with many short, pink to purplish hairs. There is a fleshy, dark red callus covering most of the labellum and extending nearly to its tip. Flowering usually occurs between November and February, but also depends on rainfall. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

This species of orchid was first formally described in 2013 by David Jones who gave it the name Corunastylis stephensonii in Australian Orchid Review from specimens he collected near Nowra in 2001. [3] [4] In 2016, Julian Shaw changed the name to Genoplesium stephensonii in the Quarterly Supplement to the International Register of Orchid Hybrids (Sander's List) [5] [6] and the name is accepted by Plants of the World Online. [1] The specific epithet (stephensonii) honours the orchid enthusiast and conservationist, Alan W. Stephenson. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Genoplesium stephensonii grows in shallow, well-drained soil over sandstone rock, and in sandy loam in heathy forest. It is only known from near Nowra and Jervis Bay. [3] [2]

Related Research Articles

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.

<i>Genoplesium nudiscapum</i> Species of orchid

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.

<i>Genoplesium filiforme</i> Species of orchid

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.

<i>Genoplesium arrectum</i> Species of orchid

Genoplesium arrectum, commonly known as the erect midge orchid and as Corunastylis arrecta 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 twenty small, dark purple flowers. It grows in a montane and subalpine grassland and forest in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.

Genoplesium citriodorum, commonly known as the lemon-scented 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 thirty three small, lemon scented, dark purplish black flowers. It usually grows under shrubs in shallow sandstone soil in the Blue Mountains.

Genoplesium capparinum, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to Victoria. It is one of the midge orchids and has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty small, green flowers with purple markings. It is a rare species, found only in a small area in the south-east of the state.

<i>Genoplesium clivicola</i> Species of orchid

Genoplesium clivicola is species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty five small, greenish and reddish flowers. It grows in forest and woodland in Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.

Genoplesium cranei, commonly known as the Blackall Range midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to the Blackall Range in Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty small, green to greenish yellow flowers with reddish markings. It grows in open forest with shrubs and grasses.

Genoplesium morinum, commonly known as the mulberry 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 twenty crowded, dark reddish purple flowers. It has been known as "mulberries on sticks".

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 psammophilum is a species of small terrestrial orchid endemic to coastal and near-coastal areas in south-eastern Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to thirty five small, dark red or brownish red flowers. The species is treated as Corunastylis psammophila in Queensland.

<i>Genoplesium pumilum</i> Species of orchid

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 sigmoideum, commonly known as the Dave's Creek midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to a small area in the Lamington National Park in Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty dark red flowers with a hairy labellum. The species is treated as Corunastylis sigmoidea in Queensland.

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 tectum, commonly known as the Cardwell midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to a small area in north-eastern Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to thirty light red flowers with a dark reddish-black, hairy labellum.

Genoplesium turfosum, commonly known as the alpine midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to a small area in the higher parts of New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty five dark purplish-red, crowded flowers with a sparsely hairy labellum.

Genoplesium leptochilum is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to Victoria. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty small reddish-brown to dark purplish flowers. It is known from one population with only six plants in forest near a swamp.

Genoplesium carectum is a species of small terrestrial orchid endemic to a restricted part of New South Wales. It has a single leaf fused to the flowering stem and between three and thirteen brownish-green flowers with purple and red markings. It occurs in three populations in swampy places in and near Wollemi National Park.

Genoplesium cuspidatum is a species of small terrestrial orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single leaf fused to the flowering stem and between 6 and 28 reddish to dark purple flowers with prominent darker stripes.

Genoplesium tenellum is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single leaf fused to the flowering stem and between 5 and 21 green flowers with reddish-purple lines and markings.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Genoplesium stephensonii". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Jones, David L.; Renner, Matthew A.M. "Genoplesium stephensonii". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L. (2013). "Corunastylis stephensonii, a new orchid species from the Shoalhaven Region of South-eastern New South Wales". Australian Orchid Review. 78 (3): 50–53. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  4. "Corunastylis stephensonii". APNI. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  5. "Genoplesium stephensonii". APNI. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  6. Shaw, Julian M.H. "Quarterly Supplement to the International Register of Orchid Hybrids (Sander's List)" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. p. 36. Retrieved 8 August 2023.