Common name: Gnat Orchid
Acianthus pusillus D.L.Jones APNI*
Description: Terrestrial herb.
Leaf 12–32 mm long, 10–30 mm wide, upper surface dark green, lower surface reddish purple or greenish.
Raceme 3–18 cm high, 1–18-flowered. Flowers 8–12 mm long, translucent, dull green to pinkish, with a green to reddish purple labellum. Dorsal sepal narrow-obovate, not closely cucullate, 6–8.5 mm long, c. 2.5 mm wide. Lateral sepals linear to ± oblanceolate, 6–8 mm long, c. 0.8 mm wide, with reddish markings; apical point c. 1–2.3 mm long. Petals narrow-ovate to ovate, 2.5–3 mm long, 0.8–1.3 mm wide, reflexed against the ovary. Labellum narrow-oblong to cordate, concave near the base, margins revolute, 4–4.5 mm long, 2–3 mm wide; callus thick, fleshy, smooth or slightly papillose near the apex.
Flowering: March–August
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in many moist habitats including heath, sclerophyll forest and rainforest margins; widespread.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. S.A.
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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