Erect midge orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Erect midge orchid |
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In the Namadgi National Park | |
Scientific classification | |
Genus: |
Genoplesium
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Species: |
arrectum
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Synonyms | |
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The Erect midge orchid (also known as Genoplesium arrectum or Corunastylis arrecta in Australia) is a tiny orchid that only grows in south-eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf that joins its flower stem. This special orchid can have up to twenty small, dark purple flowers. You can find it growing in grassy areas and forests high up in the mountains of Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.
What it Looks Like
The Erect midge orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times. This plant has an underground tuber (like a small potato) and one thin leaf. The leaf is about 100–180 mm (4–7 in) long. It is joined to the flowering stem, with a free part that is about 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long.
This orchid usually has between three and twenty dark purple flowers. These flowers grow close together on a stem that is 20–35 mm (0.8–1 in) tall. The stem is taller than the leaf. Each flower is about 6 mm (0.2 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. What's interesting is that the flowers are upside down! This means their labellum (a special lip-like petal) is above the column (the central part of the flower) instead of below it.
The top sepal (a leaf-like part that protects the flower bud) is shaped like a wide egg. It is about 4 mm (0.2 in) long and 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide. It has smooth edges and dark bands of color. The side sepals are long and narrow, about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. They stand up straight and are mostly parallel to each other.
The petals are narrow and egg-shaped, about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. They also have dark bands and smooth edges. The labellum is thick and fleshy. It is shaped like an oval or wide egg, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. It has rough hairs along its edges. In the middle of the labellum, there is a narrow, egg-shaped callus (a raised, fleshy part). This callus reaches about three-quarters of the way to the labellum's tip. The Erect midge orchid flowers in December and January.
How it Got its Name
The Erect midge orchid, Genoplesium arrectum, was first officially described in 1991. A botanist named David Jones found a sample of it near Omeo. He published its description in a scientific book called Australian Orchid Research. Later, in 2002, David Jones and Mark Clements changed its name to Corunastylis arrecta.
The second part of its scientific name, arrecta, comes from a Latin word. It means "upright." This name refers to the orchid's side sepals, which stand up straight.
Where it Grows
The Erect midge orchid grows in grasslands and grassy forests. It is found in places that are higher than 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level. You can find this orchid in north-eastern Victoria and in the Australian Capital Territory.