Common name: Red Midge Orchid
Genoplesium rufum (R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. APNI* Synonyms: Prasophyllum obovatum Rupp APNI*
Corunastylis rufa (R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. APNI*
Prasophyllum rufum R.Br. APNI*
Prasophyllum mucronatum Rupp APNI*
Prasophyllum unicum Rupp APNI*
Description: Terrestrial herb 8–25 cm high.
Inflorescence moderately dense, 1–4 cm long, 1–25-flowered.
Flowers 3–4 mm across, light red to dark red. Dorsal sepal ovate, 2–3 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, apex acuminate, margins entire. Lateral sepals linear to lanceolate, 3–3.5 mm long, c. 0.8 mm wide, gibbous at the base, divergent. Petals ovate, 1.8–2.4 mm long, c. 0.8 mm wide, apex acute to acuminate, margins entire or erose. Labellum ovate to obovate, 2–3 mm long, 1.3–2 mm wide, apex obtuse to acute, margins entire or irregularly and minutely toothed; callus narrow-ovate to narrow-oblong, extending nearly to the labellum apex.
Flowering: January–May.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in sclerophyll forest, moss gardens over sandstone sheets and in heath; widespread, coastal districts west to Dubbo.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, CWS, SWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. S.A.
The flower and labellum illustration above left was taken from Flora of New South Wales Volume 4, which was published at a time when G. rufum and G. trifidum were regarded as synonyms. The illustration may be of G. trifidum as the labellum is ovate, not obovate.
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.
|
