Botanical name

Acrolophia ustulata

Family

Orchidaceae

Common Name

Black Orchid, Golden Orchid

Status

Vulnerable

Acrolophia ustulata
Acrolophia ustulata
Acrolophia ustulata
Acrolophia ustulata
Acrolophia ustulata
Acrolophia ustulata

Description

Slender rhizomatous geophyte. One of our tiniest orchids only growing to 10cm. It is very seldom seen, mostly second year post-fire. Leaves are stiff and leathery, overlapping and almost folded together. Flowers in lax raceme, flowers 8mm long and resupinate, either dark maroon or greenish-yellow; the yellow form comprises only 12% of populations; lip is papillate except along the margins.

Latin: uro, ustus = to burn; -atus = indicates possession or likeness; referring to scorched brown look of the brown flowers.

Habitat

Dryish fynbos habitat in coarse stony soil

Flower Date

October to December