Acianthella sublesta
Encyclopedia
Acianthella sublesta is a member of the Acianthella
("Elf Orchids"), which is a small genus of tropical ground orchids previously included in Acianthus
but distinguished "by tiny green flowers on long thin ovaries, sepals of similar shape and size, lacking apical clubs, narrow petals and no basal glands on the labellum
." There are about 7 species altogether, 2 endemic in Australia
, and 5 in New Caledonia
. Both the Australian species are self-pollinating and very difficult to grow. It was described by David LLoyd Jones and Mark Alwin Clements in 2004. The type-species is Acianthella amplexicaulis.
It grows from the Atherton Tableland
to Eungella in Queensland
at altitudes from 700 to 1300 m. in loose soil and litter in rainforest or along embankments and edges of tracks. Very localised. It flowers from March to May. The flowers are green, tiny (3 mm diameter), and short-lived on green stems 30–60 mm tall. The callus plate extends for the length of the labellum. The anther is green, pink or purplish.
Acianthella
Acianthella is a small genus of tropical ground orchids previously included in Acianthus but is now distinguished "by tiny green flowers on long thin ovaries, sepals of similar shape and size, lacking apical clubs, narrow petals and no basal glands on the labellum." There are about 7 species...
("Elf Orchids"), which is a small genus of tropical ground orchids previously included in Acianthus
Acianthus
Acianthus is a small genus of 9 species, 8 endemic in Australia and 1 in New Zealand, from the orchid family . Previously there were more species included in Acianthus, but about half of them have now been redistributed to other genuses, such as Acianthella.The name is derived from the Greek words...
but distinguished "by tiny green flowers on long thin ovaries, sepals of similar shape and size, lacking apical clubs, narrow petals and no basal glands on the labellum
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
." There are about 7 species altogether, 2 endemic in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and 5 in New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
. Both the Australian species are self-pollinating and very difficult to grow. It was described by David LLoyd Jones and Mark Alwin Clements in 2004. The type-species is Acianthella amplexicaulis.
It grows from the Atherton Tableland
Atherton Tableland
The Atherton Tableland is a fertile plateau which is part of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland, Australia. It is located west to south-south-west inland from Cairns, well into the tropics, but its elevated position provides a climate suitable for dairy farming. It has an area of around...
to Eungella in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
at altitudes from 700 to 1300 m. in loose soil and litter in rainforest or along embankments and edges of tracks. Very localised. It flowers from March to May. The flowers are green, tiny (3 mm diameter), and short-lived on green stems 30–60 mm tall. The callus plate extends for the length of the labellum. The anther is green, pink or purplish.