Genoplesium despectans

Genoplesium despectans, commonly known as the sharp midge orchid and known as Corunastylis despectans in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to forty five small, dark purple or green and purple flowers.

Sharp midge orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Genoplesium
Species:
G. despectans
Binomial name
Genoplesium despectans
Synonyms[1]
  • Prasophyllum despectans Hook.f.
  • Corunastylis despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Description

Genoplesium despectans is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single thin leaf 150–250 mm (6–10 in) long and fused to the flowering stem with the free part 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long. Up to forty five dark purple or green and purple flowers are crowded along a flowering stem 20–40 mm (0.8–2 in) tall. The flowers lean downwards and are about 5.5 mm (0.2 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The flowers are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, about 4 mm (0.2 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and spread apart from each other. The petals are egg-shaped, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with a pointed tip. The labellum is lance-shaped, thick and fleshy, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and sharply pointed with fine teeth along its edges. There is a narrow lance-shaped callus in the centre of the labellum and extending almost to its tip. Flowering occurs between December and April.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

The sharp midge orchid was first formally described in 1858 by Joseph Dalton Hooker who gave it the name Prasophyllum despectans and published the description in Flora Antarctica.[5][6] In 1989, David Jones and Mark Clements changed the name to Genoplesium despectans[7] and in 2002 changed the name again to Corunastylis despectans.[8] The specific epithet (despectans) is derived from a Latin word meaning "to look down upon".[9]

Distribution and habitat

Genoplesium despectans grows in heath and heathy forest south from Wollongong in New South Wales and is common and widespread in Victoria. It also found in the south-east of South Australia and in Tasmania.[2][3][10]

References
  1. "Genoplesium despectans". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 185. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Jeanes, Jeff. "Corunastylis despectans". Roya Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  4. Jones, David L. "Genoplesium despectans". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. "Prasophyllum despectans". APNI. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  6. Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1858). The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror. III. Flora Tasmaniae (Volume 2). London: Lovell, Reeve & Co. pp. 13–14. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  7. "Genoplesium despectans". APNI. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  8. "Corunastylis despectans". APNI. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  9. Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879). A Latin dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  10. Jones, David L. (1998). "A taxonomic revies of Genoplesium in Tasmania". Australian Orchid Research. 3 (5): 88.
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