Corunastylis capparina facts for kids

Corunastylis capparina is a tiny orchid that grows only in Victoria, Australia. It's often called a "midge orchid" because its flowers are so small. This special plant has a single thin leaf attached to its flowering stem. It produces up to twenty small, green flowers with purple marks. Corunastylis capparina is quite rare and can only be found in a small part of south-east Victoria.

What Does This Orchid Look Like?

Corunastylis capparina is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous herb, which means its leaves and stems die back each year, but it regrows from an underground tuber (like a small potato).

This orchid has a single thin leaf that is joined to its flowering stem. The stem grows to a height of about 8 to 25 centimetres (3 to 10 inches), which is taller than the leaf.

The Flowers

The flowers are small, about 3.5 to 4 millimetres (0.14 to 0.16 inches) wide. There can be anywhere from two to twenty flowers on each stem. They are usually green with purple markings, but sometimes they can be entirely purple.

Like other orchids in its genus, the flowers of Corunastylis capparina are unusual because they are inverted, or upside down. This means the labellum (a special petal) is above the column (the central part of the flower) instead of below it.

• The dorsal sepal (the top part of the flower) is shaped like a wide egg. It's about 3 millimetres (0.12 inches) long and 2.5 millimetres (0.10 inches) wide.
• The lateral sepals (the side parts) are long and narrow, about 4 to 4.5 millimetres (0.16 to 0.18 inches) long and 1 to 1.5 millimetres (0.04 to 0.06 inches) wide. They spread out from each other.
• The petals are shaped like small spears or eggs, about 2.5 millimetres (0.10 inches) long and 1 millimetre (0.04 inches) wide. They have darker edges and a pointed tip.
• The labellum is thick and fleshy, shaped like a wedge. It's about 2.5 to 3 millimetres (0.10 to 0.12 inches) long and 1.5 to 2 millimetres (0.06 to 0.08 inches) wide, with slightly wavy edges.
• There's also a narrow, egg-shaped callus in the middle of the labellum, almost reaching its tip.

This orchid usually flowers in March and April.

How Was This Orchid Named?

The scientific name Corunastylis capparina was officially given to this orchid in 2016. It was first described by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the orchid in the Blond Bay Wildlife Reserve. His description was then published in a magazine called the Australian Orchid Review.

The second part of the name, capparina, comes from a Latin word that means "greenish-brown." This refers to the colour of the orchid's flowers.

Some scientists, like Julian Shaw, have suggested changing the name of this orchid to Genoplesium capparinum. Currently, both Genoplesium capparinum and Corunastyis capparina are listed as "unplaced names" in the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. This means their exact classification is still being discussed by scientists.

Where Does This Orchid Live?

This special midge orchid grows in areas with heathland and heathy forests. You can find it in Victoria, Australia, specifically between the towns of Sale and Bairnsdale.