Cryptostylis leptochila
{{Short description|Species of orchid}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Small tongue orchid
| image = Cryptostylis leptochila CRNP.jpg
| image_caption = Cryptostylis leptochila in Cathedral Rock National Park
| status =
| status_system =
| taxon = Cryptostylis leptochila
| authority = F.Muell. ex Benth.{{cite web |title=Cryptostylis leptochila |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/89013 |publisher=Australian Plant Census |access-date=28 May 2023}}
| synonyms =
- Cryptostylis leptochila var. frenchiana F.Muell.
- Cryptostylis leptochila F.Muell. ex Benth. var. leptochila
}}
Cryptostylis leptochila, commonly known as small tongue orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has one to a few broad leaves and up to fifteen green flowers with a dark red labellum that has a black stripe and rows of black dots either side of the stripe. As with others in the genus, it is pollinated by male ichneumon wasps.File:Cryptostylis leptochila (habit).jpg
Description
Cryptostylis leptochila is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with one to several broad egg-shaped to broad lance-shaped leaves {{convert|18-120|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|25-40|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide on a petiole {{convert|10-60|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long. The upper surface of the leaves is green but the lower side is reddish purple. Between five and fifteen flowers {{convert|15-20|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|4-5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} wide are borne on a flowering stem {{convert|200-400|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} tall. The sepals and petals are linear, greenish or yellowish and spread stiffly apart. The sepals are {{convert|13-23|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and the petals are {{convert|6-15|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long. The labellum is dark red, linear to oblong, cup-shaped around the column with its edges rolled under and the end suddenly turned downwards. It is {{convert|16-20|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and about {{convert|5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} with a raised black central line and irregular lines of raised black calli either side of the line. The surface of the labellum is densely covered with glandular hairs. Flowering occurs from November to May and the flowers are pollinated by male Lissopimpla excelsa wasps when they attempt to mate with them.{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories|date=2006|publisher=New Holland|location=Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.|isbn=1877069124|pages =268–269}}{{cite web|last1=Jeanes|first1=Jeff|title=Cryptostylis leptochila|url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/205ec5ca-7d44-46ee-8623-9553f7ac0f75|publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria|accessdate=28 June 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Weston |first1=Peter H. |title=Cryptostylis leptochila |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Cryptostylis~leptochila |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney |accessdate=28 June 2018}}
Taxonomy and naming
Cryptostylis leptochila was first formally described in 1873 by George Bentham from an unpublished description by Ferdinand von Mueller. The description was published in Flora Australiensis.{{cite web|title=Cryptostylis leptochila|url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/509902|publisher=APNI|accessdate=15 January 2018}}{{cite book |last1=Bentham |first1=George |last2=von Mueller |first2=Ferdinand |title=Flora Australiensis |date=1873 |volume=6 |publisher=Lovell Reeve & Co. |location=London |pages=334–335 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26124779#page/348/mode/1up |accessdate=28 June 2018}} The specific epithet (leptochila) is derived from the Ancient Greek words {{Transliteration|grc|leptos}} meaning "fine", "small", "thin" or "delicate",{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.}}{{rp|470}} and {{Transliteration|grc|cheilos}} meaning "lip".{{rp|200}}
Distribution and habitat
The small tongue orchid grows in forest, usually in high rainfall areas. It is found in south-eastern Queensland, on the coast and ranges of New South Wales, in southeastern Victoria and on Flinders Island.
Conservation
This species is classed as "endangered" in Tasmania, where it occurs in a few locations on Flinders Island but is not in any nature reserve. The main threats to the species are inappropriate fire regimes and land clearing. It is listed under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.{{cite web |title=Threatened species listing statement - small tongue orchid Cryptostylis leptochila |url=http://www.threatenedspecieslink.tas.gov.au/Pages/Cryptostylis-leptochila.aspx |publisher=Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment |accessdate=28 June 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q10262000}}
Category:Orchids of New South Wales
Category:Orchids of Victoria (state)