3. C. bifolia, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 247.—Stout or slender, glandular-pubescent, 3–9 in. high. Leaves two together towards the base of the stem, spreaduig, 1–2½ in. long, variable in shape, one usually much broader than the other, ovate or oblong to ovatelanceolate or lanceolate, acute, sparingly glandular-pubescent, margins ciliate. Scape 1-flowered, with a sheathing bract a little distance below the flower. Flower white with a tinge of pink, nearly 1 in. diam. when fully expanded. Upper sepal narrow-oblong, obtuse, erect, concave; lateral spreading, linear-lanceolate. Petals shorter and narrower. Lip sessile by a narrow base, spreading, orbicular-obovate, rounded at the tip, undivided, margin entire; disc with two almost continuous lines of yellow calli extending from the middle to the base. Column elongate, incurved, 2-winged, wings not produced behind the anther.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 267. C. macrophylla, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii. (1895) 396. Chiloglottis Traversii, F. Muell. Veg. Chath. Is. 51.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands, Auckland Islands: Not uncommon in upland districts from Lake Taupo and Mount Egmont southwards. Ascends to 4500 ft., descends to sea-level in the extreme south and in the outlying islands. December–January.
A curious plant, the genus of which is doubtful. It was referred to Chiloglottis by Mueller, and certainly is allied to it in habit, but it wants the essential character of the wings of the column produced into 2 lobes behind the anther. On the whole I think it is best retained in Caladenia.
17. CHILOGLOTTIS, R. Br.
Terrestrial herbs, with small underground tubers. Leaves 2, radical or nearly so, oblong or linear-oblong. Scape 1-flowered, with a solitary bract below the flower. Upper sepal erect, incurved, concave, narrowed at the base; lateral narrow-linear or terete, spreading or reflexed. Petals lanceolate, falcate. Lip attached to the base of the column by a short or long claw, ovate or obovate, undivided; disc with variously arranged calli. Column elongated, incurved, winged; wings produced at the top into 2 erect lobes often equalling the anther. Stigma placed just under the rostellum. Anther terminal, erect, 2-celled; pollinia 4, granular.
A small genus of 7 species, 6 of which are natives of Australia, one of them extending to New Zealand, the remaining one confined to New Zealand. The genus differs from Caladenia principally in the 2-leaved stem and in the wing of the column extending behind the anther. Caladenia bifolia has the habit of Chiloglottis, but the column-wing is that of Caladenia, in which genus I have retained it.
Stout, upper sepal broad ovate-lanceolate; lateral sepals and petals erect. Lip very shortly clawed, trowel-shaped | 1. C. cornuta. |
Slender. Upper sepal linear-spathulate. Petals deflexed. Lip with very long narrow claw, lamina rhomboid | 2. C. formicifera. |