Genoplesium psammophilum facts for kids

Genoplesium psammophilum is a special kind of orchid. It grows only in certain coastal and near-coastal areas of south-eastern Queensland, Australia. This small plant has a single thin leaf. This leaf is joined to its flowering stem. The orchid can have up to thirty-five tiny flowers. These flowers are usually dark red or brownish-red.

What Does This Orchid Look Like?

Genoplesium psammophilum is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. 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 orchid has one thin leaf. The leaf is about 100–250 mm (4–10 in) long. Part of the leaf is joined to the flowering stem. The free part of the leaf is about 14–16 mm (0.55–0.63 in) long.

The plant produces between five and thirty-five flowers. These flowers are packed closely together on a flowering stem. The stem is 10–35 mm (0.4–1 in) long. The whole plant can grow to a height of 120–300 mm (5–10 in).

The flowers are dark red or brownish-red. Each flower is about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. Like other orchids in its genus, the flowers are upside down. This means the labellum (a special petal) is above the column (the central part of the flower).

The dorsal sepal (top part of the flower) is shaped like a line or an egg. It is about 2–2.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and 1.5–2 mm (0.06–0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals (side parts) are more like spear tips. They are about 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. These sepals spread widely apart.

Each lateral sepal has a small, white gland on its tip. The petals are also shaped like lines or eggs. They are about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. They have an S-shaped gland on their tips.

The labellum can be light or dark red. It is shaped like an ellipse or an egg, narrower at the base. It measures about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. There is a reddish or reddish-black callus (a thickened part) in the middle of the labellum. This callus covers about half of its surface.

This orchid usually flowers from March to May.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The plant Genoplesium psammophilum was first officially described in 1991. This was done by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the plant near Amity in Queensland. The description was published in a research paper called Australian Orchid Research.

Later, in 2002, David Jones and Mark Clements changed the plant's name. They called it Corunastylis psammophila.

The second part of the name, psammophila, comes from two Ancient Greek words. Psámmos means "sand". Phílos means "dear one" or "friend". This name refers to the sandy soil where this orchid likes to grow.

Where Does This Orchid Grow?

Genoplesium psammophilum grows in coastal and near-coastal areas. It is found in special types of plant communities called heath and wallum. These areas are located in south-eastern Queensland.