Cyrtostylis reniformis
Gnat Orchid
Slender brown- to green-stemmed perennial herb, growing from small tubers.
Additional information
- SynonymAcianthus reniformis
- FamilyOrchidaceae
- StoreyLower storey
- Size3-10 cm high
- Plant groupingOrchids
- LeavesSingle round ground-hugging grey-green leaf 10-35 mm x 10-35 mm, paler below, network of paler veins.
- Flower colourGreenish- to reddish-brown
- Flowering timeJuly to October
- Flowers1-4 flowers to 10 mm across, sepals and petals similar, to 8 mm long, slender, sepals pointing forward, petals downward, central sepal erect. Lip projecting forward, oblong with ragged tip and 2 raised ridges from the back. Column erect, winged.
- Bird attractingNo
- Butterfly attractingNo
- Frog habitatNo
- Growing conditionsWell drained stony clay soil in open forest and woodland. Semi shade.
- Garden useUse of orchids in gardens is not recommended, unless they already occur naturally, in which case they need to be protected. Removing orchids from the bush usually results in their death and further depletes remaining wild orchid populations.
- Commercially availableNever
- Conservation statusSignificant within the Shire. Known from few local sites. Common in some remaining locations, extinct in others.
- Aboriginal Use Food - tuber
Photo Gallery
Photographer/s: 1, 3 Richard Hartlands ©; 2 Cathy Powers ©
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