Bare midge orchid
While flowering
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Genoplesium
Species:
G. nudiscapum
Binomial name
Genoplesium nudiscapum
Synonyms[1]
  • Corunastylis nudiscapa (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Corunastylis sp. aff. nudiscapa
  • Corunastylis sp. aff. nudiscapa (Otway Ranges)
  • Genoplesium sp. aff. nudiscapum
  • Prasophyllum nudiscapum Hook.f.

Genoplesium nudiscapum, commonly known as the bare midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty small, green and reddish-brown flowers. It was thought to be extinct, since it had not been seen since 1852 but was rediscovered in 2008. The species has also been described as occurring on continental Australia. The species is known as Corunastylis nudiscapa in Tasmania.

Description

Genoplesium nudiscapum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single thin leaf 60–80 mm (2–3 in) long and fused to the flowering stem with the free part up to 10 mm (0.4 in) long. Between three and twenty green and reddish-brown flowers are crowded along a green flowering spike 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long reaching to a height of 40–120 mm (2–5 in). The flowers are entirely glabrous, lean forwards and are about 5 mm (0.2 in) long, 3.5 mm (0.1 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 about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long, 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide and has a pointed tip. The lateral sepals are lance-shaped, about 4.5 mm (0.18 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide, turn downwards and are free from each other. The petals are egg-shaped, 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with a small white gland on the tip. The labellum is narrow oblong, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with a callus in its centre and extending almost to its tip. Flowering occurs from February to mid-April.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Genoplesium nudiscapum was first formally described in 1853 by Joseph Dalton Hooker who gave it the name Prasophyllum nudiscapum and published the description in The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror. III. Flora Tasmaniae.[5][6] In 1989, David Jones and Mark Clements changed the name to Genoplesium nudiscapum.[7] At that time, G. nudiscapum was described as occurring in New South Wales and Victoria but extinct in Tasmania, not having been seen there since 1852. In 2002 Jones and Clements changed the name again to Corunastylis nudiscapa but the change is not accepted by the Australian Plant Census.[1][8]

In 2008, the Tasmanian orchid was rediscovered in the foothills of Mount Wellington. Corunastylis nudiscapa is now regarded by the Australian Plant Census as a Tasmanian endemic and orchids previously known as C. nudiscapa/Genoplesium nudiscapum on the mainland to be either Corunastylis leptochila or C. densa.[9]

The National Herbarium of New South Wales lists Genoplesium nudiscapum as occurring in that state.[10]

Distribution and habitat

Genoplesium nudiscapum grows in heathy woodland and forest dominated by Eucalyptus tenuiramis or Eucalyptus obliqua in two locations near Hobart.[3]

Conservation

The total population of the bare midge orchid is estimated at 250 plants and the species is listed as "Endangered" under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. It is threatened by land clearing, weed invasion and management and by inappropriate fire regimes.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Genoplesium nudiscapum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  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. 189. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 "Listing statement for Corunastylis nudiscapa". Government of Tasmania Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  4. ↑ Stephenson, Alan W. "Corunastylis nudiscapa". Orchid Conservation Coalition. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "Prasophyllum nudiscapum". APNI. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  6. ↑ Hooker, Joseph D. (1858). The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. Discovery ships Erebus and Terror. III. Flora Tasmaniae (Volum 2 No. 6). London: Lovell Reeve. p. 13. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "Genoplesium nudiscapum". APNI. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Corunastylis nudiscapa". APNI. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  9. ↑ Walsh, Neville. "Corunastylis leptochila". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  10. ↑ Jones, David L. "Genoplesium nudiscapum". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
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