Mosquito Orchid

(Acianthus exsertus)

This tiny terrestrial orchid is found in sheltered forest, often below shrubs or bracken and is easily overlooked.

Search at ground level for single heart shaped leaves, dark green above and purplish-red beneath. They often grow in massed groups but only a few will bear small and delicate flowers on stalks growing to 30cm tall.

They are pollinated by insects and small flies. Decaying leaf litter and bracken provides them with ideal growing conditions.