Genoplesium firthii
Firth's midge orchid | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
Tribe: | Diurideae |
Genus: | Genoplesium |
Species: | G. firthii
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Binomial name | |
Genoplesium firthii (
M.A.Clem.[1] | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Genoplesium firthii, commonly known as Firth's midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to six small, yellowish green or reddish flowers with a red labellum. It grows in coastal heath and scrub and is currently only known from a single population of about twelve plants near Coles Bay.
Description
Genoplesium firthii is a terrestrial,
Taxonomy and naming
Firth's midge orchid was first formally described in 1971 by Leonard Cady who gave it the name Prasophyllum firthii from a specimen collected near Bicheno. The description was published in The Orchadian.[5] In 1989, David Jones changed the name to Genoplesium firthii[6] and in 2005 changed the name again to Corunastylis firthii but the last change is not accepted by the Australian Plant Census.[1][7]
Distribution and habitat
Genoplesium firthii grows on a roadside near Coles Bay.[3]
Conservation
Firth's midge orchid is only known from a single population containing about twelve plants. It was formerly also known to occur at Friendly Beaches Reserve but has not been seen there since 1973. The species is classified as Endangered under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and as Critically Endangered under the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act. The main threats to the species are road maintenance, trampling by people and cars, by weed invasion and inappropriate fire regimes.[3][4]
References
- ^ a b c "Genoplesium firthii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ a b c "Conservation Advice Genoplesium firthii" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Threatened species listing statement - Firth's midge orchid - Corunastylis firthii". Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Prasophyllum firthii". APNI. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Genoplesium firthii". APNI. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Corunastylis firthii". APNI. Retrieved 3 February 2018.