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Microtis
Also called Mignonette Orchids
Microtis, commonly known as onion orchids or mignonette orchids is a genus of about 20 species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Onion orchids are terrestrial herbs with a single leaf at the base of the plant. They are similar to orchids in the genus Prasophyllum in that they have an onion-like leaf. The flowers are small but often scented and attractive to their insect pollinators. They are widespread in Asia, Australia and some Pacific islands.
Most Microtis are very easy to grow, and readily volunteer themselves in other pots. Onion orchids are often found in gardens around Melbourne from wind-born seed.
Onion orchids are widespread in temperate areas of Australia and in sub-tropical Queensland, occurring in all states but not the Northern Territory. Microtis parviflora and M. unifolia are the most widely distributed species and also occur on both main islands of New Zealand and as far south as Stewart and possibly Auckland Islands as well as New Caledonia, and Norfolk, Lord Howe and the Kermadec Islands in the western Pacific. These two species are also found in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, southern Japan, the Ryukyu Islands and possibly in mainland China. They usually grow in areas that are wet in winter or in areas of high rainfall.
White mignonette orchid · Scented mignonette orchid · Mona Vale onion orchid · Notched onion orchid · Swamp mignonette orchid · Sweet mignonette orchid · Cupped mignonette orchid · Slender mignonette orchid · Desert mignonette orchid · Coastal mignonette orchid · Globular mignonette orchid · Granite mignonette orchid
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Microtis (plant) by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
