Thynninorchis huntiana
(F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. Elbow OrchidLeafless saprophyte 8–20 cm tall; flower stem with 2–4 sheathing bracts at base. Flowers 1–10, reddish green, in loose raceme; pedicel (excluding ovary) 6–10 mm long, slender; sepals and petals similar, sharply deflexed against ovary, narrow-oblong to linear, blunt, 4–6 mm long. Labellum with long, slender claw, 5–7 mm long, glabrous, with elbow-like joint on to column foot (of similar length); claw attached at bottom third of labellum lamina; lamina insect-like, 6–8 mm long (including 'tails'), fringed with long purple or reddish hairs; proximal end with 2 short glands terminating in shiny black clubs, with an irregular, rounded, purple gland at their base; distal end with paired, slender, glandular tails, c. 4 mm long, projecting forward, with a short, upcurved beak between them. Column with 4 narrow, tapering lobes that curve in pairs above and below the anther. Flowers Nov.–Mar.
VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also NSW, ACT, Tas. Widely distributed, often on dry ridges in open forest, entering subalpine forests and woodlands (e.g. Mt Buffalo).
Plants occur singly or in sparse groups, sometimes rather common, but often overlooked.
Spinning