Cardwell midge orchid facts for kids

Genoplesium tectum, commonly known as the Cardwell midge orchid, is a tiny orchid. It grows only in a small area of north-eastern Queensland, Australia. This orchid has a single thin leaf that is joined to its flowering stem. It produces up to thirty light red flowers. Each flower has a dark reddish-black, hairy part called a labellum.

What Does the Cardwell Midge Orchid Look Like?

The Cardwell midge orchid is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It is also a deciduous herb, losing its leaves at certain times. It grows from an underground tuber, which is like a storage root.

It has one thin leaf with a reddish base. This leaf is 150–300 mm (6–10 in) long. Most of the leaf is fused, or joined, to the flowering stem. Only a small part, about 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long, is free.

Between five and thirty flowers grow on a stem. The stem is about 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long. The plant can reach a height of 200–400 mm (8–20 in). The flowers hang downwards and are light red. Each flower is about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide.

Like other orchids in its genus, the flowers are upside down. This means the labellum is above the column, not below it. The dorsal sepal is shaped like a wide egg. It is about 3 mm (0.1 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. It is light reddish with strong reddish-black stripes.

The lateral sepals are long and narrow, like a spearhead. They are about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. They have a small gland at their tips and spread far apart. The petals are narrow and egg-shaped. They are about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide, with dark reddish stripes.

The labellum is shaped like an ellipse or an egg. It is narrower at its base. It is about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide. Its edges are covered with short, purplish hairs. A dark reddish-black callus is in the center of the labellum. It reaches almost to the tip. These orchids usually flower from November to March.

How Did the Cardwell Midge Orchid Get Its Name?

The Cardwell midge orchid was first officially described in 1991. It was named Genoplesium tectum by a botanist named David Jones. This description was published in a scientific book called Australian Orchid Research.

Later, in 2002, David Jones and Mark Clements changed its name to Corunastylis tecta. The second part of its scientific name, tectum, comes from a Latin word. This Latin word means "covered," "hidden," or "secret." This name was chosen because this orchid is often hidden by thick plants around it.

Where Does the Cardwell Midge Orchid Live?

The Cardwell midge orchid grows in woodlands. It is found among dense sedges and grass. This orchid is only known to grow in an area south of Cardwell, in Queensland.