Cyrtostylis reniformis (Small Gnat-orchid)

Cyrtostylis reniformis, Brisbane Ranges National Park, Victoria, Australia

Photograph by Melburnian. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

SMALL GNAT-ORCHID FACTS

distribution map showing range of Cyrtostylis reniformis in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License

Common Name
Small Gnat-orchid

Description
The Small Gnat-orchid is a small terrestrial orchid. The flowers are a reddish maroon colour and produced cluster of up to eight flowers. The dorsal sepal is narrow and erect. The lateral sepals are very thin. The labellum is about 1 cm long. Flowering is in winter and spring from June to October. The leaves develop close to the ground and are round or kidney shaped growing to about 4 cm long. The leaf is green with pattern of white veins above and paler on the lower surface.

Habitat
prefers moist conditions in eucalypt forest, woodland, heathland.

Distribution
Small Gnat-orchid is found in south east Queensland, eastern New South Wales, Victoria, southern South Australia and Tasmania

Growth Characteristics
Height: 10cm - 20cm
Classification

Class:	Liliopsida
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Genus:	Cyrtostylis
Species:	reniformis
Common Name:	Small Gnat-orchid