Genoplesium trifidum
{{Short description|Species of orchid}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Trifid midge orchid
| image =
| image_caption =
| genus = Genoplesium
| species = trifidum
| authority = (Rupp) M.A.M.Renner{{cite web |title=Genoplesium trifidum |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77205239-1#synonyms |publisher=Plants of the World Online |access-date=6 August 2023}}
| synonyms =
}}
Genoplesium trifidum, commonly known as the trifid midge orchid,{{cite web |title=Genoplesium trifidum |url=https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Genoplesium~trifidum |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney |access-date=6 August 2023}} is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty five dark purplish-black and green flowers. It grows in heath in scattered places in the Sydney basin.
Description
Genoplesium trifidum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single thin leaf {{convert|200-300|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and fused to the flowering stem with the free part {{convert|15-20|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long. Between five and twenty five dark purplish-black and green flowers are arranged along a flowering stem {{convert|10-30|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long. The flowers lean downwards slightly and are {{convert|3-4|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|4-5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} wide. 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 {{convert|2-2.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and about {{convert|1.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide with hairless edges and darker coloured bands. The lateral sepals are about {{convert|3|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and about {{convert|1|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide, with a humped base and a sharply pointed tip. The petals are about {{convert|1.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and about {{convert|1|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide with hairless edges and a sharply pointed tip. The labellum is egg-shaped, about {{convert|3|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide, thick and fleshy. There is a broad, tapering callus in the centre of the labellum and extending nearly to its tip. Flowering occurs from January to April.{{cite journal |last1=Renner |first1=Matthew A.M. |title=Two new combinations in Corybas and Genoplesium (Orchidaceae) for New South Wales. |journal=Telopea |date=2019 |volume=22 |pages=220–223 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/282232#page/220/mode/1up |access-date=6 August 2023}}{{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|page =188}}
Taxonomy and naming
The blackish midge orchid was first formally described in 1941 by Herman Rupp who gave it the name Prasophyllum trifidum and published the description in The Victorian Naturalist. The specimen was collected near Castlecrag.{{cite web|title=Prasophyllum trifidum|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/536805|publisher=APNI|accessdate=15 February 2018}}{{cite journal|last1=Rupp|first1=Herman|title=Two new species of Prasophyllum|journal=The Victorian Naturalist|date=1942|volume=58|number=2|pages =21–22|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/139541#page/358/mode/1up|accessdate=15 February 2018}} In 2022, Matthew Renner changed the name to Genoplesium trifidum{{cite web|title=Genoplesium trifidum|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/51347491|publisher=APNI|accessdate=6 August 2023}} and the name is accepted by Plants of the World Online. The specific epithet (trifidum) is a Latin word meaning "three-cleft",{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page =814}} referring to the shape of the column.
Distribution and habitat
Genoplesium trifidum grows in heath or heathy forest between Kurri Kurri and Middle Harbour.
References
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Category:Endemic orchids of Australia