Chiloglottis trullata

Chiloglottis trullata, commonly known as the triangular orchid,[2] is a species of orchid endemic to Queensland. It has two dark green leaves and a single small, green or pinkish flower with a shiny, dark reddish black, insect-like callus surrounded by reddish club-shaped calli covering most of the upper surface of the labellum.

Triangular ant orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Chiloglottis
Species:
C. trullata
Binomial name
Chiloglottis trullata
Synonyms[1]
  • Myrmechila trullata (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Description

Chiloglottis trullata is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with two ground-hugging, dark green, oblong to elliptic leaves 50–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) wide on a petiole 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. A single green or pinkish flower 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide is borne on a flowering stem 50–75 mm (2–3 in) high. The dorsal sepal is spatula-shaped, 10–11 mm (0.39–0.43 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals are linear, 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and curve downwards and away from each other. There is a glandular tip about 1 mm (0.04 in) long on the end of all three sepals. The petals are linear to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 8–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide and turn downwards towards the ovary. The labellum is broadly trowel-shaped, 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. There is a shiny, dark reddish black, insect-like callus with a handlebar-shaped, stalked "head" end about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The callus and associated glands occupy most of the upper surface of the labellum. The column is pale green with a few purple spots, 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide with narrow wings. Flowering occurs in July and August.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Chiloglottis trullata was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones from a specimen collected in the Blackdown Tableland National Park and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[4] The specific epithet (trullata) is a Latin word meaning "trowel",[5] referring to the shape of the labellum.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The triangular ant orchid grows near sandstone boulder in tall forest on the Blackdown Tableland.[2][3]

References
  1. "Chiloglottis trullata". 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. 142. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Jones, David L. (1991). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 2: 42–43.
  4. "Chiloglottis trullata". APNI. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 817.
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