rufous midge-orchid

Genoplesium rufum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb with a single wiry leaf fused to the flowering stem. The leaf is 100–160 mm (4–6 in) long and the free part is 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long. Between five and twenty five pinkish to reddish flowers are crowded on a flowering stem 10–40 mm (0.4–2 in) tall. The flowers droop forwards, and are 3.5–4.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. As with others in the genus the flowers are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long, 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide and sharply pointed. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide, have an expanded base and diverge from each other. The petals are egg-shaped, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with a pointed tip. The labellum is egg-shaped, whitish or pinkish, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long, 1.5–2 mm (0.06–0.08 in) wide, sometimes with small, irregular teeth on the edges. There is a blackish callus in the centre of the labellum and extending almost to its tip. Flowering occurs between January and May.

Rufous midge-orchid is locally common in forest between Ku-ring-gai and Bargo. It was formerly understood to also occur in Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania but specimens in those states are now assigned to Corunastylis clivicola, also known as Genoplesium clivicola.

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