Green elf orchid

This deciduous terrestrial orchid grows in the rainforests around Brisbane. It prefers moist rainforest areas in heavy shade with thick leaf litter and little under storey. In suitable habitat, it is very common covering the ground, but is seldom noticed as it is so small.

The leaf is deeply lobed to 35 mm by 25 mm and held about 20 mm above the ground. The flower stem is 20 mm to 50 mm above the leaf with numerous tiny green flowers only about 3 mm wide. The flowers open progressively and each flower only lasts a few days.

The leaf is very distinct in shape making this orchid very easy to identify even when not in flower. With its distinctive leaf shape and unusual labellum shape, there is no other orchid which can be confused with this orchid. As this orchid is so tiny, this orchid is very easy to overlook in the rainforest gloom. This photo shows the distinctive leaf shape with a flower spike developing.