Cryptostylis hunteriana
Encyclopedia
Cryptostylis hunteriana, commonly known as the Leafless Tongue Orchid grows in south eastern Australia
. It is a rare species with a ROTAP
rating of 3VC-
A small saprophytic plant growing to 45 cm (18 in) tall on sandy soils and heathlands, Cryptostylis hunteriana is found mostly in coastal districts, south from the Gibraltar Range National Park
. It was originally collected by W. Hunter from near Marlo, Victoria
. It was originally described by W.H. Nicholls in 1938.
The inflorescence
s (flower spikes) occur over the summer from November to February, each bears five to ten attractive red flowers, made up of a prominent spoon-shaped (spathulate) labellum
which is a red or maroon in colour with a green base and is distinctly hairy. Measuring 2.2 to 3.3 cm (0.9-1.3 in) high and 0.6–0.7 cm wide, it has inrolled margins and a smooth underside. Thin green sepal
s measuring 1.8–2.2 cm (0.7-0.9 in) in length arise from its base. Like other Australian members of its genus, it is pollinated by the ichneumon
wasp known as the orchid dupe wasp (Lissopimpla excelsa
), the males of which mistake the flower parts for female wasps and copulate with it. Unlike other members of the genus, it lacks a leaf and is instead thought to have a relationship with a fungus for its metabolism.
Cryptostylis hunteriana is found in both wet heathland and in open areas lacking understory
in dry sclerophyll forest, particularly with such trees as scribbly gum (Eucalyptus sclerophylla
), silvertop ash (E. sieberi
), red bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera
) and black sheoak (Allocasuarina littoralis
). It often grows near Cryptostylis subulata
and C. erecta
.
Cryptostylis hunteriana has been classified as vulnerable in both New South Wales
and nationally, as it is uncommon and much of its distribution is threatened by urban development.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is a rare species with a ROTAP
ROTAP
Rare or Threatened Australian Plants, usually abbreviated to ROTAP, is a list of rare or threatened Australian plant taxa. Developed and maintained by the CSIRO, the most recent edition lists 5031 taxa. The list uses a binary coding system based on the IUCN Red List categories for "Presumed...
rating of 3VC-
A small saprophytic plant growing to 45 cm (18 in) tall on sandy soils and heathlands, Cryptostylis hunteriana is found mostly in coastal districts, south from the Gibraltar Range National Park
Gibraltar Range National Park
Gibraltar Range is a national park in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia, 79 km north-east of Glen Innes and 493 km north of Sydney...
. It was originally collected by W. Hunter from near Marlo, Victoria
Marlo, Victoria
Marlo is a small village in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. It is located east near the mouth of the Snowy River where the Snowy River meets and flows into the Southern Ocean....
. It was originally described by W.H. Nicholls in 1938.
The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s (flower spikes) occur over the summer from November to February, each bears five to ten attractive red flowers, made up of a prominent spoon-shaped (spathulate) labellum
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
which is a red or maroon in colour with a green base and is distinctly hairy. Measuring 2.2 to 3.3 cm (0.9-1.3 in) high and 0.6–0.7 cm wide, it has inrolled margins and a smooth underside. Thin green sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s measuring 1.8–2.2 cm (0.7-0.9 in) in length arise from its base. Like other Australian members of its genus, it is pollinated by the ichneumon
Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae is a family within the insect order Hymenoptera. Insects in this family are commonly called ichneumon wasps. Less exact terms are ichneumon flies , or scorpion wasps due to the extreme lengthening and curving of the abdomen...
wasp known as the orchid dupe wasp (Lissopimpla excelsa
Lissopimpla excelsa
Lissopimpla excelsa, commonly known as the orchid dupe wasp, is a Wasp of the family Ichneumonidae native to Australia. Although also found in New Zealand it has probably been introduced there. It pollinates all five Australian members of the orchid genus Cryptostylis . The male wasp mistakes the...
), the males of which mistake the flower parts for female wasps and copulate with it. Unlike other members of the genus, it lacks a leaf and is instead thought to have a relationship with a fungus for its metabolism.
Cryptostylis hunteriana is found in both wet heathland and in open areas lacking understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
in dry sclerophyll forest, particularly with such trees as scribbly gum (Eucalyptus sclerophylla
Eucalyptus sclerophylla
Eucalyptus sclerophylla, known as the Scribbly Gum, is a tree native to eastern Australia. Very similar to the related Scribbly Gum , a better known tree. The best way of distinguishing the species is the smaller hemispherical to pear shaped gumnuts of Eucalyptus sclerophylla, being 0.6 cm by...
), silvertop ash (E. sieberi
Eucalyptus sieberi
Eucalyptus sieberi, the Silvertop Ash or Black Ash is a common eucalyptus tree of south eastern Australia. The range of distribution is in the higher rainfall areas, from near sea level to high altitude...
), red bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera
Corymbia gummifera
Corymbia gummifera, commonly known as Red Bloodwood, is a hardwood tree native to eastern Australia.-Description:It usually grows as a tree, but may take the form of a mallee in very poor soils. As a tree it typically grows to a height of 20 to 34 metres and a trunk diameter of one metre dbh....
) and black sheoak (Allocasuarina littoralis
Allocasuarina littoralis
Allocasuarina littoralis or Black Sheoak is an endemic medium-sized Australian tree . A...
). It often grows near Cryptostylis subulata
Cryptostylis subulata
Cryptostylis subulata, known as the Large Tongue Orchid grows in south eastern Australia. It was given its current name by H.G. Reichenbach in 1871, originally described by Labillardiere as Malaxis subulata in 1806 from Tasmania. The specific epithet subulata refers to the duck like shape of the...
and C. erecta
Cryptostylis erecta
Cryptostylis erecta, commonly known as the Bonnet Orchid or Tartan Tongue Orchid , is an orchid native to south eastern Australia....
.
Cryptostylis hunteriana has been classified as vulnerable in both New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and nationally, as it is uncommon and much of its distribution is threatened by urban development.