Common name: Mosquito Orchid
Acianthus exsertus R.Br. APNI*
Description: Terrestrial herb.
Leaf 15–40 mm long, 10–25 mm wide, upper surface dark green, lower surface reddish purple.
Raceme 10–24 cm high, 3–25-flowered. Flowers 12–16 mm long, pinkish purple to dark purple with a greenish purple to purple labellum. Dorsal sepal narrow-ovate to narrow-obovate, not closely cucullate, 8–9 mm long, c. 3 mm wide, with a red central stripe. Lateral sepals linear to oblanceolate, 8–9 mm long, c. 1 mm wide, with a red central stripe. Petals narrow-ovate to lanceolate, 4–5 mm long, c. 1.5 mm wide, reflexed against the ovary. Labellum broad-cordate to elliptic, concave near the base, margins revolute, 5–6 mm long, 3.5–4 mm wide; callus thick, fleshy, papillose near the apex.
Flowering: March–August
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in moist forest, particularly in the ranges and tablelands; widespread.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST
Other Australian states: Qld Vic.
Text by D. L. Jones Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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