1 / 2

Cyrtostylis spp.

gnat orchid

Orchidaceae Australia and New Zealand

Attracts Pollinators Fragrant (light)

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Cyrtostylis spp. is a genus of about five species of small terrestrial orchids in the orchid family (Orchidaceae), native to Australia and New Zealand. Known as gnat orchids, the plants grow from a small underground tuber and produce a single ground-hugging leaf that is rounded to heart- or kidney-shaped, 0.4-1.6 inches (1-4 cm) wide, often purplish beneath. A slender wiry flowering stem 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) tall rises from beside the leaf, carrying one to several small, spidery flowers about 0.4-0.7 inch (10-18 mm) long. The flowers are translucent green to reddish, with narrow spreading sepals and petals and a broad lip, and give off a faint scent that draws their fungus-gnat pollinators. After flowering the plants die back to the dormant tuber and reappear with the autumn rains. Cyrtostylis spp. grows in colonies in open forest, woodland, heath, and scrub on moist, well-drained soils, often among leaf litter and mosses. Like many terrestrial orchids the genus depends on a symbiotic soil fungus and resists ordinary cultivation, persisting mainly in its natural habitat and in specialist collections.

Native Range

Cyrtostylis spp. is native to Australia, where it occurs in the eastern, southern, and southwestern states, and to New Zealand. It grows in open forest, woodland, heath, and coastal scrub. The genus does not occur naturally outside Australasia.

Suggested Uses

Cyrtostylis spp. is found in native woodland, heath, and bushland and is encountered chiefly as a wild orchid rather than a planted subject. Specialist growers maintain it in collections that reproduce its fungal and seasonal needs. The flowering colonies add seasonal interest to native ground flora and support fungus-gnat pollinators.

How to Identify

Identify Cyrtostylis spp. by its single rounded to heart- or kidney-shaped leaf pressed flat to the ground, 0.4-1.6 inches (1-4 cm) wide and often purplish beneath. A thin wiry stem 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) tall bears one to several small spidery flowers with narrow spreading segments, translucent green to reddish in colour. The flowers have a broad lip and a faint scent. The flat solitary leaf and slender spidery flowers distinguish gnat orchids from related terrestrial orchids.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 8"

Width/Spread1" - 4"

Colors

Flower Colors

green

red

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Fall Winter Spring

Cyrtostylis spp. flowers mainly in late autumn, winter, and early spring, generally May to September in its native range, when the single leaf is fully developed. Each plant bears its small spidery flowers over a few weeks. After flowering the plants die back to the tuber until the next wet season.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

translucent green to reddish

Foliage Description

green, purplish beneath

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Tolerates up to 4 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand peat

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

2-4 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Cyrtostylis spp. grows in dappled to part shade on moist but well-drained soils rich in leaf litter, and depends on a symbiotic mycorrhizal fungus for germination and growth. The tubers stay dormant through the dry summer and reshoot after autumn rains, so the plants need a moist growing season and a drier dormant period. Because of the fungal dependence the genus is difficult to cultivate and is rarely grown outside specialist orchid collections. Disturbance, grazing, and habitat loss reduce wild colonies. Wild colonies persist where the habitat is left undisturbed. No routine feeding or pest control applies to natural populations.

Pruning

No pruning is required or appropriate for these small terrestrial orchids. The single leaf and flower stem die back naturally to the tuber after flowering. Spent growth is left in place as the plant returns to dormancy.