Common Onion Orchid

Common Onion Orchid

Common Onion Orchid

Microtis unifolia

A deciduous terrestrial orchid with a long single terete green leaf. The inflorescence emerges through a slit in the leaf.

Details Description
Type
Graminoid
Group
Orchid
Identifying Characteristics

Flower stem to 90 cm tall. May have up to 100 very small green flowers up to 4 mm in length arranged in a dense spike. Perianth segments to 3 mm. The dorsal sepal is ovate and hooded over the column. Flowers September-January.
Distinctive Features

Blunt tipped dorsal sepal and ovary-hugging labellum.
Life Form Group
Graminoid
Life Form Codes
Medium to Tiny Non-tufted Graminoid (MNG)
EVC types
EVC 132_61: Heavier-soils Plains Grassland
EVC 132_62: Lighter-soils Plains Grassland
Native Status
Native to Australia
Taxonomy
Phylum
Charophyta
Class
Equisetopsida
Order
Asparagales
Family
Orchidaceae
Genus
Microtis
Species
unifolia
Common Onion Orchid
Widespread acrosss Victoria in a variety of habitats including grasslands, heathlands and woodlands, but rare in the mallee and Northern Plains. Absent from the higher Eastern Highlands. Also found in South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, New Zealand, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, China and Japan.

Distribution maps indicate current and historic locations where species have been sighted.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Endangered Status
DEPI Advisory List
Not listed
FFG Act
Not listed
EPBC Act
Not listed

The conservation status of species is listed within Victoria and Australia.

The Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI) Advisory List consists of non-statutory advisory lists of rare or threatened flora and fauna within Victoria.

The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) lists threatened species in Victoria. Under the Act, an Action Statement is produced for each listed species.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation, listing nationally threatened native species and ecological communities.