Genoplesium validum

Genoplesium validum, commonly known as the Blackdown midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to the Blackdown Tableland National Park in Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to thirty five greenish-brown flowers with reddish stripes and a hairy labellum.

Blackdown midge orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Genoplesium
Species:
G. validum
Binomial name
Genoplesium validum
Synonyms[2]

Description

Genoplesium validum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single thin leaf with a reddish base and 200–300 mm (8–10 in) long, fused to the flowering stem with the free part 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long. Between fifteen and thirty five flowers are arranged along a flowering stem 50–90 mm (2.0–3.5 in) long, reaching to a height 250–400 mm (10–20 in). The flowers lean downwards, are greenish-brown, about 6 mm (0.2 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide. As with others in the genus, the flowers are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is elliptic to narrow egg-shaped, about 4.5 mm (0.2 in) long, 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and greenish with narrow, dark purplish bands. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, about 5 mm (0.2 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and spread widely apart from each other. The petals are linear to egg-shaped, about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with dark purplish bands. The labellum is elliptic to broadly oblong, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long, 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide and dark purplish-black with its edges densely covered with short, coarse purplish hairs. There is a dark purplish-black callus in the centre of the labellum and extending almost to its tip. Flowering occurs from December to April.[3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Genoplesium validum was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[1] In 2002, David Jones and Mark Clements changed the name to Corunastylis valida.[5] The specific epithet (validum) is a Latin word meaning "strong" or "powerful",[6] referring to the robust habit of this orchid.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The Blackdown midge orchid grows in sandy soil in rocky places on the Blackdown Tableland.[3][4]

References
  1. "Genoplesium validum". APNI. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  2. "Genoplesium valida". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  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. 182. ISBN 1877069124.
  4. Jones, David L. (1991). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 2: 74–75.
  5. "Corunastylis valida". APNI. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 767.
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