Corunastylis leptochila facts for kids

Corunastylis leptochila 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.

Description

Corunastylis leptochila is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single thin leaf 100–150 mm (4–6 in) long. Between five and twenty reddish-brown to dark purplish flowers are densely crowded along a flowering stem 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) tall. The flowers lean downward and are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. The flowers and are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, 2–2.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 3.5–4.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with a small white gland on the tip. The petals are egg-shaped, about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and also have a small gland on the tip. The labellum is narrow elliptic to narrow oblong, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. There is an oblong callus in the centre of the labellum and extending nearly to its tip. Flowering occurs in November and December.

Taxonomy and naming

Corunastylis leptochila was first formally described in 2017 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Lavers Hill and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research. The specific epithet (leptochila) is derived from the Ancient Greek words leptos meaning "fine" or "small" and cheilos meaning "lip" or "rim".

Distribution and habitat

Corunastylis leptochila grows in forest near a swamp near Lavers Hill where only six plants are known.