Small Wasp Orchid

Description:

A terrestrial small deciduous plant, often all that is seen are 2 opposing flat leaves laying parallel with the ground (approx size up to 70mm each leaf); the orchid flower is held high on a thin stalk with varying shades of green, cream & maroon colouring on both the stem & flower; flower reaches up to 26mm in total length, although many of these specimens were well below that; the small wasp orchid is so small it can be easily missed & walked on. Insect pollinated by sexual deception as the flower mimics a female wasp. native to Australia.

Habitat:

Found in coastal mid to northern regions of NSW & into Queensland in moist areas often fringing creeks and bordering drier woodlands. Found also in more southern regions, may be overlooked & could be occurring in areas not explored. This colony found near a creek with fringing dry woodland & dry rainforest remnant emerging from heavy leaf litter in sandy soil.

Notes:

Sometimes the smallest things are the most beautiful, there is such microscopic detail in the structure of these orchids