Purple midge orchid facts for kids

The purple midge orchid (Genoplesium ostrinum) is a tiny, special orchid that only grows in New South Wales, Australia. It has a single thin leaf and can grow up to ten dark purple flowers. These flowers have cool darker stripes and a fuzzy part called a labellum that wiggles even with the smallest puff of air!

What Does It Look Like?

The purple midge orchid is a plant that grows from a special underground part called a tuber. It has one thin leaf that is about 15 to 28 centimetres (6 to 11 inches) long. The part of the leaf that stands freely is about 1 to 2.2 centimetres (0.4 to 0.9 inches) long.

This orchid grows between three and ten dark purple flowers. They are grouped together on a stem that is about 1 to 3 centimetres (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long. This stem is much taller than the leaf. The flowers are about 1 centimetre (0.4 inches) long and 0.85 centimetres (0.3 inches) wide. Like other orchids in its group, these flowers are upside down. This means their fuzzy lip, called the labellum, is at the top instead of the bottom.

Each flower has different parts:

• The dorsal sepal (top part) is about 6 millimetres (0.2 inches) long and 3 millimetres (0.1 inches) wide. It has darker stripes, a pointed tip, and fuzzy edges.
• The lateral sepals (side parts) are about 7.5 millimetres (0.3 inches) long and 1 millimetre (0.04 inches) wide. They have a small hump at their base and spread far apart.
• The petals are about 4 millimetres (0.2 inches) long and 1.5 millimetres (0.06 inches) wide. They are striped and have fuzzy edges.
• The labellum (fuzzy lip) is about 5 millimetres (0.2 inches) long and 1.5 millimetres (0.06 inches) wide. Its tip curls upwards, and it has long hairs along its edge. This labellum quivers and shakes even with the slightest breeze!

You can see these orchids flowering between February and April.

How It Got Its Name

The purple midge orchid was first officially described in 2001 by a botanist named David Jones. He published his description in a magazine called The Orchadian.

Later, in 2002, David Jones and another botanist, Mark Clements, changed its scientific name to Corunastylis ostrina. The second part of its original name, ostrinum, is a Latin word. It means "purple," which perfectly describes the color of its flowers!

Where Does It Live?

The purple midge orchid is found only in New South Wales, Australia. It likes to grow among shrubs or grasses in woodlands. You can find it in areas between the towns of Tallong and Braidwood.