Chiloglottis palachila
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Spade-lipped wasp orchid | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Near Yetholme | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Chiloglottis |
| Species: | C. palachila |
| Binomial name | |
| Chiloglottis palachila | |
Chiloglottis palachila, commonly known as the spade-lipped wasp orchid,[2] is a species of orchid endemic to some of the higher places in northern New South Wales. It has two leaves and a single green to greenish pink flower with a black, ant-like callus on the base of the labellum. The tips of the lateral sepals have distinctive swollen, brown glandular tips.
Chiloglottis palachila is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with two elliptic leaves lying flat on the ground, 30–70 mm (1–3 in) long and 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide on a petiole 10–30 mm (0.4–1 in) long . A single green to greenish pink flower 20–22 mm (0.8–0.9 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide is borne on a flowering stem 120–170 mm (5–7 in) high. The dorsal sepal is linear to spatula-shaped, 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long, 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) wide with a narrow glandular tip a further 2 mm (0.08 in) long. The lateral sepals are linear but tapered, 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and curve strongly downwards with a swollen brown glandular tip about 2 mm (0.08 in) long. The petals are oblong, 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide and turned downwards near the sides of the ovary. The labellum is spade-shaped, held horizontally, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. About one-third of the base of the labellum is covered with a black, ant-like callus about 3 mm (0.1 in) long. The column has prominent reddish striations and is 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide with broad wings. Flowering occurs from April to June.[2][3][4]