Glossodia minor
Encyclopedia
Glossodia minor, the Small Waxlip Orchid is a small terrestrial orchid, found in eastern Australia
. Usually found near the coast, often in heathland growing on sandstone
based soils. It may grow from 5 to 16 cm (2-6.4 in) tall. One or two flowers appear in winter or spring. They are rarely white, but more often a pink, violet, rosy pink or bluish purple. The single leaf is parallel to the ground, 2 to 4 cm (0.8-1.6 in) long, and broad lanceolate in shape. The leaf and stem are noticeably hairy. This plant first appeared in scientific literature in 1810, in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown
.
Glossodia minor can be distinguished from the waxlip orchid (Glossodia major
) by its smaller flowers. The latter species has a white base to the labellum.
Glossodia minor is found along the eastern coastline of Australia in Queensland and New South Wales, where it reaches as far west as Temora
. It is also found in Victoria west to Marlo
.
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...
. Usually found near the coast, often in heathland growing on sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
based soils. It may grow from 5 to 16 cm (2-6.4 in) tall. One or two flowers appear in winter or spring. They are rarely white, but more often a pink, violet, rosy pink or bluish purple. The single leaf is parallel to the ground, 2 to 4 cm (0.8-1.6 in) long, and broad lanceolate in shape. The leaf and stem are noticeably hairy. This plant first appeared in scientific literature in 1810, in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
.
Glossodia minor can be distinguished from the waxlip orchid (Glossodia major
Glossodia major
Glossodia major, commonly known as the Waxlip Orchid is a small terrestrial orchid, found in eastern Australia. This plant first appeared in scientific literature in 1810, in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown.Reaching 12–32 cm in...
) by its smaller flowers. The latter species has a white base to the labellum.
Glossodia minor is found along the eastern coastline of Australia in Queensland and New South Wales, where it reaches as far west as Temora
Temora
Temora may refer to:* Temora, New South Wales, a town in Australia* Temora , listed on the NRHP in Maryland* Temora , a 1763 poem by James Macpherson* Temora , a genus of copepods in the family Temoridae...
. It is also found in Victoria west to Marlo
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....
.