Genoplesium confertum

Genoplesium confertum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single thin leaf 100–160 mm (4–6 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and fused to the flowering stem with the free part 11–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long. Between ten and sixty flowers are densely crowded along a flowering stem 15–35 mm (0.6–1 in) tall and slightly taller than the leaf. The flowers lean forwards, are reddish with green tips, 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The flowers are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is pinkish red, broadly egg-shaped, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 4 mm (0.2 in) long, 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide, spread apart from each other and have a small whitish gland on their tip. The petals are lance-shaped to egg-shaped, blackish red, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and 11 mm (0.4 in) wide with a prominent gland on their tips. The labellum is dark red, egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide, with small teeth on the sides. There is a thick, fleshy callus in the centre of the labellum, covering about half of its surface and extending almost to its tip. Flowering occurs between February and May.

Genoplesium confertum grows in heath on stabilised sand dunes in coastal districts between Fraser Island and Runaway Bay, including the Great Sandy National Park.

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