Genoplesium rufum (R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Rufous midge orchid (en)

Species

Angiosperms > Asparagales > Orchidaceae > Genoplesium

Characteristics

Leaf 100–130 mm long, very thin; free part c. 10 mm long, ending just below flowers. Spike c. 15 mm long, 2–15-flowered. Flowers tiny, moderately crowded, semi-nodding, not widely expanding, c. 3 mm across, green with reddish or yellowish tints. Dorsal sepal more or less oblong, c. 3 × 1.5 mm, flattish; margins incurved, glabrous; apex drawn out into long filiform point, gland-tipped. Lateral sepals nearly parallel, c. 5 × 1 mm, base humped; apex sharply pointed, gland-tipped. Petals incurved, c. 2.5 × 0.5 mm; margins glabrous; apex drawn out into long, filiform point, gland-tipped. Labellum spoon-shaped, c. 2.5 mm, long; margins entire; apex filiform. Callus dark red, narrow, thick, with prominent central groove, extending nearly to labellum apex.
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Leaf 100–160 mm long, thin; free part 10–20 mm long, ending below flowers. Spike 15–30 mm long, 5–25-flowered. Flowers moderately crowded, strongly nodding, 3.5–4.5 × 4–5 mm, bright red, reddish or pinkish. Dorsal sepal 2.5 × 2 mm, sometimes with dark bands; margins glabrous. Lateral sepals divergent, 3.5–4 × 1 mm, base strongly humped; apex sharply pointed or with tiny vestigial gland. Petals 2–2.3 × 0.9 mm; margins glabrous; apex sharply pointed. Labellum stiffly hinged, obovate, 2.5 × 1.3 mm, fleshy, whitish or pinkish with blackish callus; margins usually smooth sometimes slightly irregular; apex sharply pointed, recurved. Callus oblong, constricted, extending nearly to labellum apex.
Leaf 100–150 mm long; free part ending away from flowers. Spike 15–25 mm long, 5–20-flowered. Flowers well spaced, semi-nodding, c. 4–5 mm across, green and reddish purple. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate, c. 2 × 1.8 mm; margins glabrous; apex ending in long sharp point. Lateral sepals divergent, 3–3.5 × 1 mm, base humped; apex acuminate with club-shaped gland. Petals c. 2 × 0.8 mm; margins irregular or with small teeth; apex long acuminate to filiform. Labellum stiffly hinged, oblong-obovate, c. 3 × 1.5 mm, fleshy, apex rounded with small protruding point (mucro). Callus obovate, reddish purple, broadly channelled at base, extending nearly to labellum apex.
Leaf 100–120 mm long, thin; free part ending close to flowers. Spike 15–25 mm long, 5–12-flowered. Flowers well spaced, semi-nodding, c. 4–5 mm across, green and reddish purple. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate, c. 2 × 1.8 mm; margins glabrous; apex shortly pointed. Lateral sepals divergent, 3–3.5 × 1 mm; apex shortly pointed. Lateral sepals divergent, 3–3.5 × 1 mm; apex shortly pointed. Petals c. 2 × 1.2 mm, broadly ovate-elliptical; margins glabrous; apex with two tiny points. Labellum stiffly hinged, obovate, c. 3 × 1.8 mm; margins wavy; apex broadly rounded, wavy. Callus linear, dark purple, extending two-thirds of distance to labellum apex.
An orchid.
Life form perennial
Growth form herb
Growth support free-standing
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Sexuality hermaphrodite
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Environment

Known only from a single collection in 1942; habitat recorded by Rupp (1942) as ‘moss under Melaleuca trees in sandy soil’.
More
Locally common; growing in open forest and grassy forest, often among rocks, in freely draining clay loam and sandy loam.
Poorly known; growing among shrubs in open forest in clay loam.
Poorly known; growing in forest among rocks in sandy loam.
It is a temperate plant.
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Hardiness (USDA) 8-12

Usage

Uses -
Edible roots tubers
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Cultivation

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Distribution

Genoplesium rufum world distribution map, present in Australia

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:947168-1
WFO ID wfo-0000971917
COL ID 3FLMC
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Corunastylis rufa Prasophyllum laminatum Prasophyllum rufum Corunastylis laminata Genoplesium rufum Prasophyllum rufum var. intermedium