Citation: Fitzg., Aust. Orchids 1, 3 (1877).

Synonymy: Myrmechila trapeziformis

Common name: Dainty bird-orchid, broad-lip bird-orchid.

Description:
Stem often pinkish, 7-10 cm high; leaves 4-8 cm long and 1-2 cm wide, narrow-oblong, acute, tapering to the base, their margins often undulate or crisped; floral bract 1.5-2 cm long, ensheathing the pedicel.

Flower borne well above the leaves, mainly purplish, less often green, to 15 mm long, not fleshy; dorsal sepal erect, narrowly cuneate with a short point; lateral sepals spreading, sometimes recurved, narrow-linear; petals deflexed against the ovary, broad-linear; labellum on a short claw, 10-12 mm long, trapeziform or rhomboid with short points; calli dark, chiefly in 2 groups, one toward the claw and one on the anterior half extending to the apex; column shorter than the labellum, widely winged above the centre, the rounded apices higher than the anther.

Published illustration: Fitzgerald (1877) Australian orchids vol. 1, pt 3; Gray (1971) Victorian native orchids, p. 26; Woolcock (1984) Australian terrestrial orchids, pl. 26D.

Distribution:  The single S.Aust. population is located in a mature plantation of Pinus radiata and the species possibly did not occur in S.Aust. before European settlement. S.Aust.: SL, SE.   Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. 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: A third species of Chiloglottis, C. gunnil Lindley has been reported from the SE near Mt Burr. The single population was seen by one of the authors who considers it to be a deliberate introduction.

Author: Not yet available