Small waxlip orchid
Glossodia minor growing in
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Glossodia
Species:
G. minor
Binomial name
Glossodia minor
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Caladenia glossodia F.Muell.
    • Caladenia minor (R.Br.) Rchb.f. nom. illeg.
    • Caladenia minorata M.A.Clem. nom. illeg., nom. superfl.
    • Glossodia minor var. alba F.M.Bailey
    • Glossodia minor R.Br. var. minor
    • Glossodia orientalis F.Muell. nom. illeg., nom. superfl. p.p.
Glossodia minor leaf

Glossodia minor, commonly known as the small waxlip orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single very hairy leaf and one or two deep violet-blue flowers. It has been known as Glossodia minor since its description by the prolific Scottish botanist Robert Brown in 1810, but recent discoveries suggest its inclusion in the genus Caladenia. It is similar to Caladenia major (formerly Glossodia major) but is smaller in all its parts.

Description

Glossodia minor is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. It has a single dark green, very hairy, egg-shaped leaf, 10–30 mm (0.4–1 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide, lying flat on the ground. One or deep violet-blue, rarely white flowers, 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long and wide are borne on a spike 40–160 mm (2–6 in) tall. The outer surface of the sepals and petals is light coloured and hairy. The dorsal sepal is 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The lateral sepals have similar dimensions to the dorsal sepal and spread apart from each other. The petals are 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and spread widely. The labellum is an elongated heart shape, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide, bluish-purple with a white tip and with a furrow near its base. At the base of the labellum there are two large, club-shaped calli joined at their bases, each with a fleshy black top. Flowering occurs from July to October, more prolifically after bushfire.[3][4][5][6]

Taxonomy and naming

Glossodia minor was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.[2][7] The specific epithet (minor) is a Latin word meaning "smaller", "lesser" or "inferior".[8]

Glossodia minor is regarded as a synonym of the name Caladenia minorata which is accepted by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.[9]

Distribution and habitat

Small waxlip orchid is mainly found along the eastern coastline of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. In New South Wales it is most common in coastal heath, but there are records from as far west as Temora. It is mainly restricted to coastal grasstree plains in East Gippsland in Victoria but there are records from as far west as Wilsons Promontory.[3][4][5]

References

  1. ↑ "Glossodia minor". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Glossodia minor". APNI. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  3. 1 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. 33. ISBN 1877069124.
  4. 1 2 Jeanes, Jeff. "Glossodia minor". Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria: VicFlora. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 Bernhardt, Peter. "Glossodia minor". Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Robinson, Les (2003). Field guide to the native plants of Sydney (3rd ed.). East Roseville, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 250. ISBN 9780731812110.
  7. ↑ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 326. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  8. ↑ William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 448.
  9. ↑ "Glossodia minor". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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