Corunastylis leptochila

Corunastylis leptochila is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to Victoria. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty small reddish-brown to dark purplish flowers. It is known from one population with only six plants in forest near a swamp.

Corunastylis leptochila
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Corunastylis
Species:
C. leptochila
Binomial name
Corunastylis leptochila

Description

Corunastylis leptochila is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single thin leaf 100–150 mm (4–6 in) long. Between five and twenty reddish-brown to dark purplish flowers are densely crowded along a flowering stem 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) tall. The flowers lean downward and are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. The flowers and are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, 2–2.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 3.5–4.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with a small white gland on the tip. The petals are egg-shaped, about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and also have a small gland on the tip. The labellum is narrow elliptic to narrow oblong, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. There is an oblong callus in the centre of the labellum and extending nearly to its tip. Flowering occurs in November and December.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Corunastylis leptochila was first formally described in 2017 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Lavers Hill and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[1] The specific epithet (leptochila) is derived from the Ancient Greek words leptos meaning "fine" or "small"[3]:488 and cheilos meaning "lip" or "rim".[3]:486

Distribution and habitat

Corunastylis leptochila grows in forest near a swamp near Lavers Hill where only six plants are known.[2]

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References
  1. "Corunastylis leptochila". APNI. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  2. Jeanes, Jeff. "Corunastylis leptochila". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  3. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
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