Cryptostylis erecta
bonnet orchid
Overview
Cryptostylis erecta is an evergreen terrestrial orchid forming small colonies, with one to several upright leaves 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long and 0.8-1.6 inches (2-4 cm) wide on slender stalks, dark green above and purplish beneath. A single flowering stem rises 8-24 inches (20-60 cm) tall and carries up to a dozen flowers that open in succession. Each flower is held upside down so the broad dorsal sepal forms a hood over the column; the prominent labellum is 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) long, erect, pale green to mauve with reddish-purple veining and a dark tip, giving the bonnet shape. Flowering occurs mainly in summer. Flowers are pollinated by male ichneumon wasps through pseudocopulation. The plant spreads slowly by underground roots into loose clumps. It grows from a fibrous rootstock rather than a tuber, needs steady soil moisture and shade, and is slow to recover from disturbance once established.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria. Grows in moist heath, swamp margins, and open forest on sandy and peaty soils, usually in dappled shade from near sea level to about 2,300 feet (700 m).Suggested Uses
Grown in shaded native, bog, and woodland gardens and in terrestrial orchid collections, planted in moist humus-rich pockets. Suited to naturalistic plantings under open canopy where soil stays damp. Its need for shade, steady moisture, and undisturbed roots limits use in general garden beds and containers.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly in summer, November to March in its native range, with the main flush in December and January. Flowers open in sequence up the stem over 4-8 weeks. A single clump may carry blooms across much of the season as successive stems emerge.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Pale green to mauve with reddish-purple veinsFoliage Description
Dark green above, purplish beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-5 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight