Citation: R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 320 (1810).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Red beard-orchid.

Description:
Plant slender to quite stout, 15-50 cm high, stem erect; leaf linear-lanceolate, about half as long as the stem, thin and not very rigid; stem bracts similar but much shorter; floral bracts narrow, acute.

Flowers 1-8, rarely more, reddish, dorsal sepal 10-15 mm long, broad-elliptic, prominently cucullate, lateral sepals little smaller, narrowly lanceolate, divaricate, spreading below the labellum; petals c. 8 mm long, obliquely deltoid, subacute tip directed towards the dorsal sepal, striped by conspicuous red veins; labellum sessile on a broad rectangular base, 22-27 mm long (including the ligule), bare ligulate apex long and often straight, the triangular lamina covered with long reddish hairs; the hairs toward the base reduced to small linear and rounded glands; on each side at the base a short erect intramarginal plate-like callus; column short, very broadly winged and without any basal glands; base of wings united in front by a tooth-like lobe or band, stigma prominent, its lower margin purple or red; anther small, obtuse, as broad as long.

Published illustration: Fitzgerald (1878) Australian orchids vol. 1, pt 4; Gray (1966) Victorian native orchids 1:42; Woolcock (1984) Australian terrestrial orchids, pl. 25A.

Distribution:  Rare and restricted to sandy areas around swamp margins, often associated with Xanthorrhoea. S.Aust.: SL, KI, SE.   Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.   New Zealand. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Oct. — Nov.

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

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available