microtis

Illustration of nine West Australian orchids, by Emily Pelloe.

Microtis, [my-krow-tiss] from mikros, small, and ous, otos, an ear; referring to the appearance of the anthers.

A genus commonly called “Mignonette Orchids” in Western Australia, and somewhat similar to Prasophyllum in habit, but easily distinguished from it by the smaller flowers numerous on a terminal spike, which are usually greenish and not reversed. The stigma is enclosed within a hood formed by the lateral appendages of the column.

Fertilisation is performed by insects, which, by touching the very small and sensitive rostellum, cause the pollen either to fall and adhere to the stigma, or be carried by them to aother flower. Like Prasophyllum, species are considered difficult to identify.

The genus Microtis extends to New Zealand and also to New Caledonia, Java, Formosa, Philippines, Japan and Southern China.  ... Read more