Rocky Cape midge orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rocky Cape midge orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Genoplesium
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| Species: |
brachystachyum
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| Synonyms | |
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The Rocky Cape midge orchid (also known as Genoplesium brachystachyum or Corunastylis brachystachya) is a tiny orchid that only grows in Tasmania, Australia. It is called a "midge orchid" because its flowers are very small, like midges (tiny insects). This special plant has one thin leaf that is joined to its flower stem. It can have up to twelve small flowers that are green, brownish-green, and reddish. You can usually find it growing in rocky areas near the coast.
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What Does the Rocky Cape Midge Orchid Look Like?
The Rocky Cape midge orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, which means its leaves fall off at certain times.
Leaves and Stems
This orchid has a single, thin green leaf. The bottom part of the leaf is reddish. This leaf is fused, or joined, to the flowering stem. The leaf can be about 80 to 120 millimeters (about 3 to 4.7 inches) long. The part of the leaf that is not joined to the stem is about 10 to 20 millimeters (about 0.4 to 0.8 inches) long.
Flowers
The orchid usually has between three and twelve flowers. These flowers are green to brownish-green. They grow along a flowering stem that is about 10 to 20 millimeters (about 0.4 to 0.8 inches) tall. This stem is usually taller than the leaf.
The flowers hang downwards. Each flower is about 5 millimeters (about 0.2 inches) long and 3.5 millimeters (about 0.14 inches) wide. Like other orchids in its group, the flowers are upside down. This means the labellum (a special petal) is above the column (the part that holds the pollen) instead of below it.
Flower Parts
- The dorsal sepal (the top part of the flower) is reddish. It is about 3 millimeters long and 2 millimeters wide. It has smooth edges and a sharp tip.
- The lateral sepals (the two side parts) are about 4 millimeters long and 1 millimeter wide. They each have a tiny white gland (a small bump) at their tip.
- The petals are about 3 millimeters long and 1.5 millimeters wide. They are reddish with smooth edges and a sharp tip.
- The labellum is reddish and shaped like a narrow oval. It is about 3 millimeters long and 1.5 millimeters wide. It has uneven edges and a sharp tip. There is a special thick part called a callus in the middle of the labellum. This callus goes almost to the tip.
This orchid usually flowers from February to April.
How the Orchid Got Its Name
The Rocky Cape orchid was first officially described in 1840. A botanist named John Lindley gave it the name Prasophyllum brachystachyum. He found a sample of the plant near Rocky Cape. He wrote about it in his book, The Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants.
Changing Names
Later, in 1989, two other botanists, David Jones and Mark Clements, changed its name to Genoplesium brachystachyum. Then, in 2002, they changed the name again to Corunastylis brachystachya.
What the Name Means
The second part of the name, brachystachyum, comes from two Ancient Greek words:
- brachys means "short."
- stachys means "an ear of grain" or "a spike."
So, the name describes the orchid's short, spike-like flower arrangement.
Where Does the Rocky Cape Midge Orchid Live?
The Genoplesium brachystachyum grows in heathlands and heathy forests. It likes to live among low shrubs, large rocks, and flat rock areas.
You can find it in separate groups (called disjunct populations) near the north and west coasts of Tasmania. Each of these groups usually has fewer than 25 individual plants.
Why Is This Orchid Endangered?
The total number of Rocky Cape midge orchids is very small. Experts believe there are fewer than 250 plants left in the wild. This makes it a very rare and special plant.
Threats to the Orchid
The main dangers to this orchid include:
- Land clearing: When land is cleared for building or farming, the orchid's habitat is destroyed.
- Inappropriate fire regimes: Fires that happen too often, or not often enough, can harm the plants.
- Inappropriate disturbances: Things like roadworks can damage the places where the orchids grow.
Because of these threats, the Rocky Cape midge orchid (known as Corunastylis brachystachya) is listed as "Endangered." This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. It is protected under Tasmania's Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act.
