Chiloglottis chlorantha

Chiloglottis chlorantha, commonly known as the Wollongong bird orchid,[2] is a species of orchid endemic to a small part of New South Wales. It has two broad leaves and a single green to yellowish green flower with about twelve reddish, yellowish or bright green glands on the labellum callus.

Wollongong bird orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Chiloglottis
Species:
C. chlorantha
Binomial name
Chiloglottis chlorantha
Synonyms[1]

Description

Chiloglottis chlorantha is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with two elliptic leaves 27–40 mm (1–2 in) long and 10–18 mm (0.4–0.7 in) wide on a petiole 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. A single green to yellowish green flower 17–20 mm (0.7–0.8 in) long and 25–30 mm (0.98–1.2 in) wide is borne on a flowering stem 35–55 mm (1–2 in) high. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 17–20 mm (0.7–0.8 in) long and 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. The lateral sepals are green, 14–16 mm (0.55–0.63 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and erect near the base before curving downwards. There is a glandular tip about 1 mm (0.04 in) long on the sepals. The petals are lance-shaped but curved, 13–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long, 4.5–6 mm (0.18–0.24 in) wide and spread widely apart from each other. The labellum is broadly egg-shaped to heart-shaped, 12–13 mm (0.47–0.51 in) long and 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide. About two-thirds of the upper surface of the labellum is covered by a callus with about twelve reddish, yellowish or bright green glands up to 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long. The column is green with reddish flecks, 11–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, about 5 mm (0.2 in) wide with broad wings. Flowering occurs in September and October.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Chiloglottis chlorantha was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Wollongong and the description was publish in Australian Orchid Research.[5] The specific epithet (chlorantha) is derived from the Ancient Greek words chloros meaning "green"[6]:201 and anthos meaning "flower",[6]:94 referring to the colour of the flower of this orchid.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The Wollongong bird orchid grows on moist, sheltered slopes under shrubs mainly from near Sydney to the New England.[2][4]

References
  1. "Chiloglottis chlorantha". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 143. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Jones, David L. (1991). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 2: 37–38.
  4. Jones, David L. "Chiloglottis chlorantha". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. "Chiloglottis chlorantha". APNI. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
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