The Brindabella Midge-orchid is a terrestrial orchid that grows to between 10 and 25 centimetres, and forms a single underground tuber. The flowers are either green and reddish-purple, or wholly reddish-purple.
Brindabella Midge-orchid |
Corunastylis ectopa
Status: Critically Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Corunastylis ectopa
In January 2003; high intensity bushfire impacted the location of subpopulation one.
Only 35 plants were recorded in subsequent surveys in February 2004 suggesting the species may be susceptible to fire related threats; but is able to withstand occasional high intensity bushfire (Frawley 2010).
Fire during the active Consequence moderate growth period could damage or destroy plants; Trend increasing and or reduce flowering and recruitment.
Due to the limited range (two sites); high frequency bushfires could potentially reduce populations of the species from fire related threats.
Additionally; fire can also impact on orchid pollinators by direct mortality or indirectly through changing plant communities and limiting food resources (Marquart 2017).
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