Speculantha parviflora

Tiny Greenhood at suppressed

Speculantha parviflora at suppressed - 13 Mar 2021
Speculantha parviflora at suppressed - 13 Mar 2021
Speculantha parviflora at suppressed - 13 Mar 2021
Speculantha parviflora at suppressed - 13 Mar 2021
Speculantha parviflora at suppressed - 13 Mar 2021
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Identification history

Speculantha parviflora 23 Mar 2021 MattM
Speculantha parviflora 23 Mar 2021 DerekC
Speculantha sp. 15 Mar 2021 DerekC
Unidentified 14 Mar 2021 camcols

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User's notes

Small greenhood orchids with up to five flowers per stalk. Flowers approx 8mm tall. Occasional leaves along stem. Very small leaves at the base of a few larger plants. Perhaps Speculantha sp.

5 comments

DerekC wrote:
   15 Mar 2021
I believe these are Speculantha but they are not typical of the local known species in that they are very pale in colour and flowers appear more open. They are possibly Speculantha rubescens.
camcols wrote:
   15 Mar 2021
Thank you!

These are very similar in size but seem a slightly different shape from the S. rubescens nearby (4375358). Definitely much less red, with a larger opening as you mentioned, and a more lumpy (or less smoothly curved) back.

I am new to orchids and I don't yet have a feel for what is likely to be variation within a species versus separate species. Always learning!
DerekC wrote:
   15 Mar 2021
There are basically three known species in this area and these are not typical of them. I have had a look a little further afield and believe this is Speculantha parviflora. While it is not included in the latest Southern Tablelands Field Guide book it is recorded in the Goulburn area in David Jones new book and again Gary Backhouse in Bush Beauties has it in the ACT. If I am correct this would be new to CNM.
camcols wrote:
   16 Mar 2021
Thank you. I have just added a sighting of an insect I found climbing on one of these orchids yesterday. Perhaps a pollinator? Heteropelma scaposum (Two-toned caterpillar parasite wasp)
TobiasHayashi wrote:
   16 Mar 2021
Great sighting! Yep this is parviflora rather than rubescent (which is the common one in this area).

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Sighting information

  • 4 - 15 Abundance
  • 13 Mar 2021 07:26 PM Recorded on
  • camcols Recorded by

Additional information

  • 10cm to 30cm Plant height
  • True In flower

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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