Genoplesium parvicallum

Genoplesium parvicallum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single thin leaf 150–300 mm (6–10 in) long with the free part 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) long. Between fifteen and twenty five greenish flowers with purplish brown stripes are arranged along a flowering stem 20–35 mm (0.8–1 in) long and much taller than the leaf. The flowers are about 8 mm (0.3 in) long, 7 mm (0.3 in) wide and as with others in the genus, are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is 4.5 mm (0.2 in) long, 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide with a sharply pointed tip and a few hairs on its edges. The lateral sepals are 6.5 mm (0.3 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with a humped base and spread widely apart from each other. The petals are 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with a pointed tip and hairy edges. The labellum is about 4 mm (0.2 in) long, 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and purplish with a pointed tip and red hairs on its edges. The labellum quivers in the slightest breeze and there is a small, club-shaped callus in its centre. Flowering occurs between December and February.

The mountain-top midge-orchid is only known from the summits of a few mountains in the McPherson Range where it grows in shallow soil over rock ledges with grasses and shrubs.

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