Cryptostylis subulata
(Labill.) Rchb.f. Large Tongue-orchidLeaves 1–several; petioles 1–8 cm long; blades narrowly elliptic or narrowly oblong-elliptic, 3–18 cm long, 13–30 mm wide, green on both surfaces, apex acute, base wedge-shaped or tapering. Flowering stem, 25–80 cm tall, sheathing bracts 3–5, distant. Flowers 5–20, pedicellate; pedicel (including ovary) 15–20 mm long; sepals and petals yellow-green, stiffly spreading, linear to very narrowly triangular, acute, margins in-rolled; sepals to 30 mm long; petals c. 13 mm long. Labellum mainly red-brown, more or less oblong, 20–30 mm long, acute, margins at centre rolled back, usually overlapping or meeting, making labellum appear constricted at that point, concave near anther, elsewhere convex, keeled towards tip by 2 somewhat beaded ridges, and 2 finer parallel ones, all terminating in conspicuous reddish-brown, 2-lobed, glandular boss or hump near apex. Flowers Nov.–Apr.
GleP, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, VAlp. Also Qld, NSW, Tas. New Zealand. Widespread through southern Victoria mostly on damp coastal and near-coastal heaths and low open-forests. Soils are often sandy, but moist to wet for much of the year.
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
