Genoplesium littorale

Genoplesium littorale, commonly known as the Tuncurry midge orchid,[2] and as Corunastylis littoralis in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to thirty small green flowers with a purple-brown labellum. It is only known from fewer than two thousand plants in a small area on the New South Wales North Coast and is critically endangered.

Tuncurry midge orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Genoplesium
Species:
G. littorale
Binomial name
Genoplesium littorale
Synonyms[1]
  • Corunastylis littoralis (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Description

Genoplesium littorale is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single thin, dark green leaf, 100–250 mm (4–10 in) long with a reddish base and fused to the flowering stem with the free part 10–18 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long. Between five and thirty green flowers are crowded along a flowering stem 10–30 mm (0.4–1 in) tall. The flowers lean downwards, are about 5 mm (0.2 in) long, 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide with a pointed tip and hairless edges. The lateral sepals are about 4.5 mm (0.2 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide, point downwards and spread widely apart from each other. The petals are about 3 mm (0.1 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide, with a sharply pointed tip and hairless edges. The labellum is purplish brown, oblong, about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with a curled, sharply pointed tip and hairless edges. There is a callus in the centre of the labellum and extending almost to its tip. Flowering occurs from March to May.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

The Tuncurry midge orchid was first formally described in 2001 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Tuncurry and the description was published in The Orchadian.[5] In 2002, David Jones and Mark Clements changed the name to Corunastylis littorale.[6] The specific epithet (littorale) is derived from the Latin word littus meaning "shore".[7]

Distribution and habitat

Genoplesium littorale grows in scrub on stabilised sand dunes in the Forster-Tuncurry area.[2][3][4]

Ecology

Five species of flies in the genera Conioscinella and Cadrema have been shown to pollinate G. littorale. The insects are rewarded with nectar, although the nectar supply is quickly depleted by visiting flies.[8][9]

Conservation

In 2010, the total population of the G. littorale was estimated to be 1,960 plants. The species is threatened by weed invasion, grazing by rabbits and possible future residential developments. It is listed as "critically endangered" (CR) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and under the New South Wales Government NSW New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.[2][4]

References
  1. "Genoplesium littorale". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. "Genoplesium littorale – critically endangered species listing". Government of New South Wales Department of Environment and Heritage. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  3. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 186. ISBN 978-1877069123.
  4. "Approved Conservation Advice for: Corunastylis littoralis (Tuncurry midge orchid)" (PDF). Government Of Australia Department of Environment. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  5. "Genoplesium littorale". APNI. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  6. "Corunastylis littoralis". APNI. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 707.
  8. Bower, Colin; Towle, Brian; Bickel, Dan (17 February 2015). "Reproductive success and pollination of the Tuncurry Midge Orchid (Genoplesium littorale) (Orchidaceae) by Chloropid Flies". Telopea. 18: 43–55. doi:10.7751/telopea8127.
  9. "Orchid Pollination Strategy for Corunastylis littoralis". Native Orchid Society of South Australia. 2015-07-24. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
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