Genoplesium cuspidatum

Genoplesium cuspidatum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single leaf {{cvt|150–250|mm}} long, sheathing the flowering stem with the free part {{cvt|15–25|mm}} long and {{cvt|2.0–2.5|mm}} wide. Between 6 and 28 reddish to dark purple flowers with prominent darker stripes are arranged along a flowering stem {{cvt|200–300|mm}} long. The flowers are about {{cvt|5.5|mm}} in diameter, and as with others in the genus, the flowers are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is broadly egg-shaped and forms a hood over the column, {{convert|5.0–5.5|mm}} long, {{cvt|2.6–3.0|mm}} wide and concave. The lateral sepals are narrowly linear, {{cvt|6.0–6.5|mm}} long, about {{cvt|1.5|mm}} wide, spread widely apart and lack a humped base. The petals are egg-shaped, {{cvt|4.0–4.5|mm}} long, about {{cvt|1.5|mm}} wide with long-tapering tip. The labellum is elliptic to spatula-shaped, {{cvt|3.5–4.0|mm}} long, {{cvt|2.0–2.5|mm}} wide, fleshy and curved with purple hairs. There is a tapered, purple callus covering more than half the base of the labellum and extending nearly to its tip. Flowering occurs from December to March.{{cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=David L. |last2=Copeland |first2=Lachlan M. |title=Corunastylis cuspidata, (Orchidaceae), a new species from north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland, Australia. |journal=The Orchadian |date=2017 |volume=82 |issue=6 |pages=54–56 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/310599#page/56/mode/1up |access-date=7 August 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=David L. |last2=Copeland |first2=Lachlan M. |last3=Renner |first3=Matthew A.M. |title=Genoplesium cuspidatum |url=https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Genoplesium~cuspidatum |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney |access-date=7 August 2023}}

This species of orchid was first formally described in 2017 by David Jones and Lachlan Copeland who gave it the name Corunastylis cuspidata and published the description in Australian Orchid Review from specimens Copland collected {{cvt|10|km}} west of Ebor in 2004.{{cite web|title=Corunastylis cuspidata|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/9738310|publisher=APNI|accessdate=7 August 2023}} In 2022, Julian Shaw changed the name to Genoplesium cuspidatum in the journal Telopea.{{cite web|title=Genoplesium cuspidatum|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/51704284|publisher=APNI|accessdate=7 August 2023}}{{cite journal |last1=Renner |first1=Matthew A.M. |title=Two new species of Genoplesium R.Br. sensu lato (Orchidaceae: Prasophyllinae) from the Central Coast of New South Wales. |journal=Telopea |date=2022 |volume=25 |page=292 |doi=10.7751/telopea15648|doi-access=free }} and the name is accepted by Plants of the World Online. The specific epithet (cuspidatum) means "pointed", referring to the long-tapering petals, compared to those of Genoplesium archeri.

Genoplesium cuspidatum grows in moss gardens on granite outcrops and in deeper soils in woodland or open forest. It is only known from several populations north from Armidale on the Northern Tablelands New South Wales to the southern parts of the Darling Downs in south-eastern Queensland.

{{reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q89007321}}

cuspidatum

Category:Endemic orchids of Australia

Category:Orchids of New South Wales

Category:Plants described in 2017

Category:Taxa named by David L. Jones (botanist)