Acianthus caudatus R. Br. 1810
Plant Photos by Cathy Powers and her AUSTRALIAN TERRESTRIAL ORCHIDS OTHER FLORA & FAUNA BANJORAH Website
Alba Form Photos by Colin Rowan and his Retired Aussies WEbsite
Common Name or Meaning The Long Sepal Acianthus - The Mayfly Orchid
Flower Size 1" [2.5 cm]
Found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia at elevations of sea level to 600 meters in coastal scrub, heathlands and forests as a miniature sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial orchid occuring in light to moderate shade and sandy soil in moist eucalypt forests with small tubers giving rise to a solitary, stalked, cordate, somewhat three-lobed, apiculate leaf with reticulation above and purpilish below which is held horizontal to the ground that blooms in the winter and spring on an erect, slender, glabrous, 6" [15 cm] long, few [1 to 9] flowered inflorescence with lanceolate, acuminate bracts and flowers that have an unpleasant odor, said to being akin to an unwashed dog. Pollination of the Nemacianthus species has been studied very little but it is thought to be pollinated by small flies.
Synonyms Acianthus caudatus var. ater Lindl.1940; Acianthus caudatus var. pallidus Rupp 1947; Epipactis caudata (R.Br.) Poir. 1812; Nemacianthus caudatus ( R.Br. ) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. 2002
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Australia Nicholls 1969 drawing fide; Miniature Orchids McQueen 1992; Manual of Cultivated Orchids Bechtel, Cribb, Laurent 1992; The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchds Pridgeon 1992 photo good; Manual of Orchids Stewart 1995; Botanica's Orchids Laurel Glenn 2002; Native Orchids of Australia Jones 2006 as Nemacianthus caudatus photo good; Mille et Une Mini Orchideees Roguenant 2009 photo fide;
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