Citation: R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 326 (1810).

Synonymy: G. major R. Br. var. alba McKibbin, Wing's South Sci. Rec. 3:102 (1883).

Common name: Purple cockatoo, wax-lip orchid.

Description:
Slender, hairy, 10-25 cm high; leaf solitary, hairy, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 3-7 cm long.

Flowers 1 or 2, usually purple, rarely white, faintly fragrant; perianth-segments all spreading, subequal, 20-25 mm long, 6-10 mm wide, their bases white with purple dots, elliptic-lanceolate, not very acute, outer surface light-coloured and glandular-hairy; labellum sessile with a contracted base, ovate-lanceolate, 10-11 x c. 5 mm, the posterior part white and pubescent, at first erect, but soon recurved forward, dilated laterally into 2 convexities or bosses with a furrow between them; the anterior half purple, glabrous, margins entire; a large purple sigmoid linear appendage with- a broad fleshy yellow 2-lobed head at the extreme base erect against the column; column erect in its lower part, incurved above, 9-10 mm long; broadly winged especially in its upper part; anther with an acute point.

Published illustration: Fitzgerald (1878) Australian orchids vol. 1, pt 4; Cady & Rotherham (1970) Australian native orchids in colour, pl. 43; Curtis (1980) Student's flora of Tasmania 4A:pl. 13.

Distribution:  Locally common, forming extensive populations in open forests. S.Aust.: FR, NL, MU, SL, KI, SE.   Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Sept. — Nov.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: Semipeloric forms rarely occur in which the labellum is replaced by an unmodified petal.

Author: Not yet available