Small Tongue-orchid

Cryptostylis leptochila

The Small Tongue-orchid is a ground orchid with small tongue shaped flower and relatively large leaf. The flower is erect and about 4 cm long. The most striking part of the flower is the maroon-coloured labellum which is tongue-shaped and covered with fine hairs on the upper surface giving a furry appearance. The labellum has a thin black stripe running along the centre, and a row of black spots (calli) along each side. The petals and sepals are narrow and green. Flowering is in spring and summer from October to April. The leaves are green above and purple underneath and grow to about 10 cm long and up to 4 cm wide.
Small Tongue-orchid (Cryptostylis leptochila) An erect plant with stalkless flowers with 3 greenish thin in-rolled radiating sepals and 2 pale thin inrolled petals. The 3rd and middle petal forms the labellum with the lower portion containing the reproductive organs. The rest of the labellum is abruptly erect with recurved margins and tip. The lower portion is covered with minute hairs and is a deep maroon. On the lower surface of the long thin labellum there is a dark median stripe with small dark glossy spots (calli) on either side. Buds are covered with sheathing bracts. Leaves are broad and slightly lance-shaped. the are seen close to the ground and have dark matt upper surface with a slight maroonish green lower surface. This is one of five species endemic to Australia. The orchid is said to "smell" like the female ichneumon wasp, Lissopimpla excelsa, seen in http://www.jungledragon.com/image/36492/orchid_dupe_wasp_-_female_lissopimpla_excelsa.html The male Lissopimpla wasp is said to be duped by the smell and it pollinates the orchid! Australia,Cryptostylis leptochila,Geotagged,Small Tongue-orchid,Summer

Appearance

The Small Tongue-orchid is a ground orchid with small tongue shaped flower and relatively large leaf. The flower is erect and about 4 cm long. The most striking part of the flower is the maroon-coloured labellum which is tongue-shaped and covered with fine hairs on the upper surface giving a furry appearance. The labellum has a thin black stripe running along the centre, and a row of black spots (calli) along each side. The petals and sepals are narrow and green. Flowering is in spring and summer from October to April. The leaves are green above and purple underneath and grow to about 10 cm long and up to 4 cm wide.

Distribution

eastern New South Wales, south east Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania

Habitat

grows in dry eucalypt woodland in coastal areas and on mountain ranges

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

http://www.oznativeplants.com/plantdetail/Small-Tongue-orchid/Cryptostylis/leptochila/zz.html
Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassMonocots
OrderAsparagales
FamilyOrchidaceae
GenusCryptostylis
SpeciesCryptostylis leptochila
Photographed in
Australia