Cryptostylis erecta


Cryptostylis erecta, commonly known as the bonnet orchid or tartan tongue orchid , is an orchid endemic to south eastern Australia. A small and common plant, it has dark green lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaves and up to twelve greenish flowers with a large, bonnet-like or hood-like, lilac-coloured labellum with a network of purple veins.

Description

Cryptostylis erecta is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with one to several egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves long and wide on a petiole long. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and purple below. Between two and twelve flowers long and wide are borne on a flower spike high.
The most prominent feature of the flower is its hood- or bonnet-shaped labellum which is long and wide, greenish to lilac-coloured with a network of purple or maroon veins and a few purple spots. The base of the labellum is narrow and surrounds the column. The sepals are green, and and the petals are and about wide, all spreading apart from each other. Flowering occurs from September to April.

Taxonomy and naming

Cryptostylis erecta was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen. The specific epithet is a Latin word meaning "upright".

Distribution and habitat

The natural habitat of C. erecta is on sandy soils, dry eucalyptus woodlands and heathlands. Its range extends from the Kroombit Tops National Park in Queensland south through New South Wales to east Gippsland in Victoria. It occurs mostly in coastal districts, although it is also found in the Upper Blue Mountains.

Ecology

Like other Australian members of its genus, it is pollinated by the ichneumon wasp known as the orchid dupe wasp, the males of which mistake the flower parts for female wasps and copulate with it.

Use in horticulture

Cryptostylis erecta has been successfully grown by orchid enthusiasts, but is slow growing. The rhizomes are delicate and resent disturbance, and need to be moist at all times.