Broadlip bird orchid

Description

Chiloglottis turfosa is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with two egg-shaped to almost round leaves 25–60 mm (1–2 in) long and 16–30 mm (0.6–1 in) wide on a petiole 4–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long. A single greenish to reddish brown flower 18–23 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long and wide is borne on a flowering stem 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) high. The dorsal sepal is spatula-shaped, to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 18–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. The lateral sepals are linear, tapering towards the tip, 16–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, erect near their bases but turn downwards, often sharply, and away from each other. There is a glandular tip about 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long on the end of the all three sepals. The petals are egg-shaped to lance-shaped, 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide, spread apart from each other and curve upwards near the labellum. The labellum is broadly egg-shaped to heart-shaped, 12–13 mm (0.47–0.51 in) long and 11–12 mm (0.43–0.47 in) wide. There are up to 24 erect, dark reddish, column like calli up to 3 mm (0.1 in) long, the longest nearer the base of the labellum. The column is greenish brown with darker marks, 12–13 mm (0.47–0.51 in) long and about 5 mm (0.2 in) wide with relatively broad wings. Flowering occurs from November to December.