Calochilus paludosus
R.Br. Red Beard-orchidFlowering plant 24–60 cm tall, slender to moderately stout. Leaf erect, linear-lanceolate, to 35 cm long, shorter than raceme, more or less rigid, channelled. Stem bracts 1 or 2. Flowers 1–6, reddish; subtending bract tapering to a point, shorter than flower; pedicel (excluding ovary) 8–17 mm long; dorsal sepal erect, broadly elliptic, acute, 12–16 mm long, hooded or the apex somewhat upswept; lateral sepals lanceolate, a little smaller than dorsal sepal, spreading below labellum; petals more or less oblique-triangular, upswept at tips, red veins conspicuous. Labellum deflexed, with a rounded marginal gland at each side at base, broadly rectangular in lower part, lamina ovate, c. 20–25 mm long, including glabrous strap-like apical extension c. 1 cm long, remainder of lamina covered with long reddish hairs, which are reduced in size towards base to small linear and rounded papillae. Column short, very broadly winged, without basal glands. Flowers Oct.–Nov.
GleP, VVP, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, VAlp. Also SA, Qld, Tas. New Zealand. Scattered through higher rainfall areas of southern Victoria, with inland occurrences in the far north-east (e.g. Tallangatta, Mitta Mitta).
Entwisle, T.J. (1994). Orchidaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 740–901. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
