Onion-leaf orchis, Common onion-orchid
Microtis unifolia

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

A robust orchid. The stem is 60 cm high. The leaf is 30-80 cm long and 0.9-1.2 cm wide. The leaf is long and like a tube. The leaf is dark green with a green base. The flower stem emerges through the side. It is 90 cm long. The flowers are pale green. There can be 100 flowers on one single flower spike. The spike is 2-15 cm long. The flowers are 0.4 cm across.

There are 15 Microtis species.

Where it is found

A subtropical to temperate plant. It grows in tussock grassland. In Sichuan. In East Timor it occurs at 1,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, China, East Timor, Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tasmania, Timor-Leste

How it is used for food

The tubers are eaten raw or roasted.

Edible parts

Root, tubers, flowers

How it is grown

Seedlings can be grown by scattering seed around the base of established plants.

Its other names

Local names

Slender onion orchid

Synonyms

Ophrys unifolia G.Forst.; Microtis parviflora R. Br.; Microtis porrifolia (Sw.)R.Br. ex Spreng.; and several others