Speculantha parviflora

Tiny Greenhood at Currawang, NSW

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

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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

   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.
   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!
   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.
   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)
   16 Mar 2021
Great sighting! Yep this is parviflora rather than rubescent (which is the common one in this area).

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 4 - 15 Abundance
  • camcols Recorded by
  • 10cm to 30cm Plant height
  • Yes In flower

Collections

Species information

  • Speculantha parviflora Scientific name
  • Tiny Greenhood Common name
  • Sensitive
  • Very rare / threatened
  • Non-invasive or negligible
  • 792.56m to 855.79m Recorded at altitude
  • External link More information
  • Synonyms

    Speculantha parviflora Pterostylis paviflora

Seasonal activity

  • In flower

    J
    F
    M
    A
    M
    J
    J
    A
    S
    O
    N
    D

Record quality

Quality score 6 / 7
  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
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