Common Onion Orchid

Images ©:
©

Common Onion Orchid - Jeff Jeanes

Microtis unifolia

Flower stem to 90 cm tall. May have up to 100 very small green flowers up to 4 mm in length arranged in a dense spike. Perianth segments to 3 mm. The dorsal sepal is ovate and hooded over the column.

Details
Flora Type
Lilies, orchids
Distinctive Features

Blunt tipped dorsal sepal and ovary-hugging labellum.

Biology

A deciduous terrestrial orchid with a long single terete green leaf. The inflorescence emerges through a slit in the leaf.

Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Sep-Jan

Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Asparagales
Family
Orchidaceae
Genus
Microtis
Species
unifolia

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Flowering is stimulated by fires during the previous summer, often resulting in a massed display. The tuber of Microtis species was used as a food by Aboriginal people.

Interesting Facts
Native Status
Native