Common name: Tableland Mosquito Orchid
Acianthus cuneatus D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel. APNI* Description: Terrestrial herb.
Leaf 20–65 mm long, 15–48 mm wide, upper surface dark green, lower surface reddish purple.
Raceme 5–20 cm high, 1–9-flowered. Flowers 7–9 mm long, translucent pink-green with a dark purplish red labellum. Dorsal sepal ovate, cucullate, 6–8 mm long, 4–5 mm wide. Lateral sepals linear to lanceolate, 5.5–6.5 mm long, c. 1.3 mm wide, with a red central stripe; apex with terete clubs. Petals narrow-ovate to lanceolate, 3–4 mm long, 1.3 mm wide, with or without a red central stripe. Labellum narrow-cordate, distal margins revolute, cordate when flattened, 5.5–6 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, acuminate; callus thick, fleshy, densely papillose near the apex.
Flowering: February to April.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in moist areas of forest from Tenterfield to Coolah Tops.
NSW subdivisions: NT
Acianthus cuneatus is most similar to A. collinus. The lateral sepals of A. cuneatus have a short thick terete club at their apex, whereas the lateral sepals of A. collinus have long, narrow terete clubs at their apex.
Text by Renner (18 July 2025)
Taxon concept: Jones DL, Copeland LM (2017) Acianthus cuneatus, (Orchidaceae), a new species from the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. Australian Orchid Review 82(6): 51-53.
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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