Scientific Name: Corunastylis firthii Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region

Common Name: firths midge-orchid

Family Classification (Clade): Monocots

Family: Orchidaceae

Threatened Species Status: Endangered

Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.

Form Description: A small slender midge orchid, single very slender leaf, 50-80 mm, ending below the flower spike.

Height (m): 0.1 – 0.15

Flowers: Pyramidal spike of up to 1-6 reddish nodding flowers with some greenish markings, red pointed labellum with irregular margins.

Municipality
Glamorgan-Spring Bay
Plant Communities
Coastal VegetationHeath
Habitat Notes

Rarely seen in coastal scrub and heathland in freely draining sands in eastern Tasmania.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Specialist Method

Seed Information

Seed Treatment Notes

Orchid seeds are very minute yellow, brown or blackish dust-like particles. Orchid seeds are produced within a capsule that splits at maturity and releases thousands to millions of seeds. Dispersed by wind and water and only germinate following infection of the embryo by a suitable mycorrhizal fungus. Very few seeds become mature plants. For more information see Jones, Wapstra, Tonelli, Harris (1999): The Orchids of Tasmania.