Family: Orchidaceae
Calochilus
Citation:
R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 320 (1810).
Derivation: Greek kalos, beautiful; cheilos, a lip.
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: Beardies.
Description:
Terrestrial glabrous herbs, with ovoid tubers; leaf solitary, linear, channelled; bracts sometimes leaflike.
Flowers resupinate, few or numerous, in a loose raceme; perianth-segments free; dorsal sepal broad, erect, hood-like; lateral sepals broad, acute, more or less spreading; petals shorter than the sepals, wide, erect or incurved; labellum exceeding the other segments in length, sessile, undivided, with an oblong base and triangular densely bearded lamina, with purple or metallic-coloured hairs; column short and broad, its wide wings produced behind but not beyond the anther; anther terminal, more or less horizontal, with a blunt beak, 2-celled; pollinia 4, or 2 each deeply 2-lobed, granular, unconnected with the rostellum.
Distribution:
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About 9 species with 7 in Australia of which 2 occur in New Zealand and 1 in New Caledonia and New Guinea.
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Biology:
The S.Aust. species are all self-pollinated, although wasps have been observed on some flowers.
Key to Species:
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C. imberbis 2. |
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2. No gland at the base of the column; labellum with a long strap-shaped apex |
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C paludosus 3. |
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2. Two glands at the base of the column |
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3. Base of the labellum glabrous or with several raised longitudinal callus-like lines, which may be more or less fused |
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C. campestris 1. |
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3. Base of the labellum covered with purple callus-like glands |
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C. robertsonii 4. |
Author:
Not yet available
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