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
editChiloglottis 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
editChiloglottis 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
editThe Wollongong bird orchid grows on moist, sheltered slopes under shrubs mainly from near Sydney to the New England.[2][4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Chiloglottis chlorantha". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b Jones, David L. (1991). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 2: 37–38.
- ^ a b Jones, David L. "Chiloglottis chlorantha". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Chiloglottis chlorantha". APNI. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ a b Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.