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© Donald Hobern from Canberra, Australia, some rights reserved (CC-BY) · Wikimedia Commons
Microtis, Genus, parviflora, Species,
- Genus & species
slender onion-orchid
Australia, New Zealand, and eastern Asia
Overview
Microtis parviflora is a terrestrial orchid growing from a small underground tuber, producing a single erect, hollow, cylindrical leaf 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) long that resembles an onion leaf. A slender flowering stem rises 6-16 inches (15-40 cm), with the leaf sheathing its lower portion. The upper stem carries a narrow spike of 10 to 50 small green flowers, each about 0.08-0.12 inch (2-3 mm) across, with a broad, down-curved labellum. Flowers are crowded toward the tip and open from the bottom upward. The plant is dormant for much of the year, with the leaf emerging in autumn or winter and the flower spike following in late spring to summer; after seed set the above-ground parts wither and the tuber rests underground through dry months. Flowers are often self-pollinating, setting abundant dust-like seed. The green flowers are small and held against the stem, and the plant is hard to detect outside the flowering period.
Native Range
Native to Australia in the eastern and southern states and also Western Australia, with a range extending to New Zealand, New Caledonia, and parts of eastern Asia. Grows in open forest, grassland, heath, and disturbed roadsides in a range of soils, from sea level to montane elevations.Suggested Uses
Occurs naturally in grassland and is most often encountered as a spontaneous plant in lawns, verges, and native grassy areas rather than as a cultivated species. It suits unmown or low-mown native grassland plantings where its summer flowering and dormancy match local rainfall. Container cultivation is difficult because of its dependence on soil fungi.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'4"
Width/Spread2" - 4"
Bloom Information
Flowers from late spring through summer, mainly October to January in southern Australia, with timing shifting earlier in warmer northern districts. Individual spikes remain in flower for about 2-4 weeks. Flowering is heavier in the season following fire or soil disturbance and may be sparse in shaded or undisturbed sites.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 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
