CYRTOSTYLIS (GNAT ORCHIDS)
There are two species of CYRTOSTYLIS (GNAT ORCHIDS) in Tasmania. The small gnat – Cyrtostylis reniformis– is relatively common in heathy open forest around much of Tasmania from May to October. My own observations have been in July and August.
The large gnat orchid, Cyrtostylis robusta is quite rare and limited to only one location in Southern Tasmania and a few sites in the NW, NW and upper West Coast and King Island. C robusta seems to have a more restricted flowering time – late May to August.
C reniformis and C robusta are quite similar and it can be difficult to identify individual specimens. C robusta is, as the name implies, a slightly larger flower with a slightly longer scape (stalk)
| reniformis | robusta | |
| Leaves | grey-green or blue-green | bright green |
| Flowers | ~ 10 mm long | ~14 mm long |
| Labellum | ~7-10mm x 3-4 mm | ~12-15mm x 6 mm |
| Flower colour | greenish to brownish with a reddish pink-brown labellum | colour variation from pinkish to brownish and also greenish . |
Cyrtostylis reniformis Cyrtostylis robusta
