Cyrtostylis huegelii

Cyrtostylis huegelii, commonly known as the western common gnat orchid[2] or midge orchid,[3] is a species of orchid endemic to Western Australia. It usually has a single rounded leaf and a flowering spike with up to fifteen pale green and dull red flowers with a purplish, shelf-like labellum. Some authorities regard C. huegelii as a synonym of Cyrtostylis reniformis var. huegelii.

Western gnat orchid
Cyrtostylis huegelii near Mount Chudalup
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Cyrtostylis
Species:
C. huegelii
Binomial name
Cyrtostylis huegelii
Synonyms[1]
  • Caladenia reniformis var. huegelii (Endl.) Rchb.f.
  • Cyrtostylis reniformis var. huegelii (Endl.) Benth.
  • Acianthus huegelii (Endl.) Nicholls & Goadby
  • Acianthus reniformis var. huegelii (Endl.) A.S.George
  • Cyrtostylis reniformis var. huegelii (Endl.) Benth.

Description

Cyrtostylis huegelii is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with a single, almost round, ground-hugging leaf 30–70 mm (1–3 in) long and 20–50 mm (0.8–2 in) wide. Up to fifteen green and fawn-coloured or dull red flowers 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long and about 5 mm (0.2 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 100–350 mm (4–10 in) high. The dorsal sepal is erect and curves forward, 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and curve forwards or downwards. The petals are similar in size and shape to the lateral sepals and curve downwards. The labellum is purplish, shelf-like, tapered oblong, 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and about 3 mm (0.12 in) wide with a pointed tip but lacking the serrations of the form found in eastern Australia. Flowering occurs from July to September.[2][4][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Cyrtostylis huegelii was first formally described in 1846 by Stephan Endlicher from a specimen collected on Rottnest Island. The description was published in J.G.C. Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae.[1] The specific epithet (huegelii) honours Charles von Hügel who collected the type specimen.[4]

Some authorities regard C. huegelii as a synonym of C. reniformis var. huegelii.[5]

Distribution and habitat

The western gnat orchid grows in shrubland, woodland and forest in wetter parts of the state and on granite outcrops in more inland areas. It is found from Kalbarri to Esperance.[2][4][3][6]

References
  1. "Cyrtostylis huegelii". APNI. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 163–164. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 196. ISBN 9780980296457.
  4. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 272. ISBN 9780646562322.
  5. "Cryptostylis reniformis var huegelii". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  6. "Cyrtostylis huegelii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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