Mosquito-orchids

Mosquito-orchids belong to the Acianthus genus (akis = point, needle or barb, and Anthos = flower). There are about four species that grow in Victoria.

The most commonly found ones in this district are the Small Mosquito-orchid (A. pusillus – pusillus = tiny, little, puny)), Large Mosquito-orchid, (A. exsertus – exsertus = protruding, thrust forth) and the Mayfly Orchid (A. caudatus). Pusillus and exsertus can be hard to tell apart sometimes. Small Mosquito-orchids and Large Mosquito-orchids tend to flower through winter. Mayfly Orchids appear late winter to spring. 

Large Mosquito-orchid leaf - upper and lower sides

Both Mosquito-orchids have a heart-shaped basal leaf that is green on top and red-purple underneath. The leaf of the Small Mosquito-orchid is ground-hugging. Large Mosquito-orchid leaves are often about 1 cm above the ground.

Left - Large Mosquito-orchid    Right - Small Mosquito-orchid

The insect-like flowers appear on a stem that varies between 10 to 20cm tall. Large Mosquito-orchids are usually dark and Small Mosquito-orchids mostly are green.

Both species are fairly widespread and Small Mosquito-orchids in particular can appear in large colonies some seasons. Often there might only be a small proportion of plants in flower. Both are pollinated by tiny flies. They both grow in a variety of habitats but seem to prefer gravelly-sandy loams in shady locations of more open forests.