Genoplesium tectum, commonly known as the Cardwell midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchidendemic to a small area in north-eastern Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to thirty light red flowers with a dark reddish-black, hairy labellum.
Genoplesium tectum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single thin leaf with a reddish base and 150–300 mm (6–10 in) long, fused to the flowering stem with the free part 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long. Between five and thirty flowers are well spaced along a flowering stem 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long, reaching to a height 200–400 mm (8–20 in). The flowers lean downwards, are light red, about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide. As with others in the genus, the flowers are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is broadly egg-shaped, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long, 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and light reddish with prominent reddish-black bands. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide, have a small gland on their tips and spread widely apart from each other. The petals are narrow egg-shaped, about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with dark reddish bands. The labellum is elliptic to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, about 5 mm (0.2 in) long, 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide with its edges densely covered with short, purplish hairs. There is a dark reddish-black callus in the centre of the labellum and extending almost to its tip. Flowering occurs from November to March.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
Genoplesium tectum was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[4] In 2002, David Jones and Mark Clements changed the name to Corunastylis tecta but the change is not accepted by the Australian Plant Census.[1][5] The specific epithet (tectum) is a Latin word meaning "covered", "concealed" or "secret",[6] referring to the dense vegetation usually concealing this orchid.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The Cardwell midge orchid grows with dense sedges and grass in woodland and is only known from an area south of Cardwell.[2][3]
References
^ abc"Genoplesium tectum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
^ abJones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 181–182. ISBN1877069124.
^ abcJones, David L. (1991). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 2: 73–74.
^"Genoplesium tectum". APNI. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
^"Corunastylis tecta". APNI. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
^Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 691.
January 25, 2023
genoplesium, tectum, commonly, known, cardwell, midge, orchid, small, terrestrial, orchid, endemic, small, area, north, eastern, queensland, single, thin, leaf, fused, flowering, stem, thirty, light, flowers, with, dark, reddish, black, hairy, labellum, cardwe. Genoplesium tectum commonly known as the Cardwell midge orchid is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to a small area in north eastern Queensland It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to thirty light red flowers with a dark reddish black hairy labellum Cardwell midge orchidScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade MonocotsOrder AsparagalesFamily OrchidaceaeSubfamily OrchidoideaeTribe DiurideaeGenus GenoplesiumSpecies G tectumBinomial nameGenoplesium tectumD L Jones 1 Synonyms 1 Corunastylis tecta D L Jones D L Jones amp M A Clem Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy and naming 3 Distribution and habitat 4 ReferencesDescription EditGenoplesium tectum is a terrestrial perennial deciduous herb with an underground tuber and a single thin leaf with a reddish base and 150 300 mm 6 10 in long fused to the flowering stem with the free part 10 20 mm 0 4 0 8 in long Between five and thirty flowers are well spaced along a flowering stem 40 50 mm 1 6 2 0 in long reaching to a height 200 400 mm 8 20 in The flowers lean downwards are light red about 5 mm 0 2 in long and 4 mm 0 2 in wide As with others in the genus the flowers are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it The dorsal sepal is broadly egg shaped about 3 mm 0 1 in long 2 mm 0 08 in wide and light reddish with prominent reddish black bands The lateral sepals are linear to lance shaped about 3 5 mm 0 1 in long 1 mm 0 04 in wide have a small gland on their tips and spread widely apart from each other The petals are narrow egg shaped about 2 5 mm 0 1 in long and 1 mm 0 04 in wide with dark reddish bands The labellum is elliptic to egg shaped with the narrower end towards the base about 5 mm 0 2 in long 2 5 mm 0 1 in wide with its edges densely covered with short purplish hairs There is a dark reddish black callus in the centre of the labellum and extending almost to its tip Flowering occurs from November to March 2 3 Taxonomy and naming EditGenoplesium tectum was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research 4 In 2002 David Jones and Mark Clements changed the name to Corunastylis tecta but the change is not accepted by the Australian Plant Census 1 5 The specific epithet tectum is a Latin word meaning covered concealed or secret 6 referring to the dense vegetation usually concealing this orchid 3 Distribution and habitat EditThe Cardwell midge orchid grows with dense sedges and grass in woodland and is only known from an area south of Cardwell 2 3 References Edit a b c Genoplesium tectum Australian Plant Census Retrieved 13 July 2021 a b Jones David L 2006 A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories Frenchs Forest N S W New Holland pp 181 182 ISBN 1877069124 a b c Jones David L 1991 New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae Australian Orchid Research 2 73 74 Genoplesium tectum APNI Retrieved 12 February 2018 Corunastylis tecta APNI Retrieved 12 February 2018 Brown Roland Wilbur 1956 The Composition of Scientific Words Washington D C Smithsonian Institution Press p 691 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Genoplesium tectum amp oldid 1033393937, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
