Family: Orchidaceae
Plant: A terrestrial orchid, 1-2 flowered on a hairy wiry stem to 20cm high.
Flowers: White to pale pink petals and sepals spreading like fingers on a hand. The labellum is white with yellow-tipped toothed margins and two rows of central calli. The column is pale green.
Flowering: May-October.
Fruit: Green capsule, initially hairy and turning brown with age.
Leaves: Basal, solitary, sparsely hairy, up to 12cm long and 4mm wide.
Habitat: In heathland and dry sclerophyll forest in sandy soils.
Features: Distinctive small white or pale pink orchid with petals and sepals spreading like fingers on a hand.
Name:
Petalochilus From Greek petalon = leaf and petal and cheilos = lip (referring to its petal-like labellum).
catenatus From Latin = chain-like (referring to its calli).
|
Type |
Herb |
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|
Flowers |
Form |
Irregular, Single |
|
|
Colour(s) |
White, Pink |
|
|
Petal/Sepal No. |
6 |
|
|
Flowering Month |
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
|
Fruit |
Type |
Capsule |
|
|
Colour |
Green, Brown |
|
|
Other Features |
Hairy |
|
Leaves |
Arrangement |
Basal |
|
|
Type |
Simple |
|
|
Shape |
Linear, Strap-like |
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|
Length |
Medium |
|
|
Margins |
Entire |
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|
Attachment |
Unstalked |
|
|
Other Features |
Hairy |
|
Bark |
- |
|
|
Habitat |
Dry sclerophyll forest, Heathland |
|