Glossodia minor

Small Waxlip Orchid
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Orchidoideae
Tribe:	Diurideae
Subtribe:	Caladeniinae
Genus:	Glossodia
Species:	G. minor
Binomial name
Glossodia minor R.Br.

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 to 6.5 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 (1 to 1.5 in) long, and broad lanceolate in shape. The leaf and stem are noticeably hairy.^[1] This plant first appeared in scientific literature in 1810, in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown.^[2]

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.^[3]

Glossodia minor is found along the eastern coastline of Australia in Queensland and New South Wales, where it reaches as far west as Temora.^[4] It is also found in Victoria west to Marlo.^[3]

the single prostrate leaf, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

References

1. Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN 978-0-7318-1211-0 page 250
2. "Glossodia minor R.Br.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
3. Bishop, Anthony (2000). Field guide to the orchids of New South Wales and Victoria. UNSW Press. p. 163. ISBN 0-86840-706-2.
4. P. Bernhardt. "New South Wales Flora Online: Glossodia minor". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.

External links