Microtis orbicularis
R.S.Rogers Dark Mignonette-orchidFlowering stem 10–40 cm tall, slender, characteristically bent at apex of leaf-sheath. Leaf erect, 10–25 cm long, almost solid, green; sheath opening close to bottom of inflorescence. Flowers 3–30, green, often with red tints, erect, in moderately loose spike 2–10 cm long; ovary obovoid, 2–3 mm long, sessile; dorsal sepal ovate, 1–2 mm long, obtuse, hooded, gradually narrowing towards base; lateral sepals linear, similar in length to dorsal sepal, somewhat acute, appressed to ovary, concealed below labellum; petals ovate-lanceolate, 1–2 mm long, spreading or recurved below the dorsal sepal. Labellum pendulous, flat, more or less circular, 1–2 mm long, fleshy; margins entire; apex rounded; lamina somewhat concave, often with small pit in centre; calli absent. Column with minute conical fleshy auricles. Flowers Sept.-Dec.
LoM, Wim, GleP, VVP, GipP, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, WPro. Also WA, SA, Tas. This semi-aquatic species often flowers in shallow water around the margins of swamps. It occurs in south-west Victoria (e.g. Portland, Grampians, Little Desert) and east of Melbourne on French Island, Wonthaggi area (where possibly now extinct) and Wilsons Promontory.
The nearly circular labellum lamina without calli and the hidden lateral sepals characterize M. orbicularis.
The recent placement of this species into the genus Hydrorchis has not been generally accepted.
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