Narrow-lipped Spider-orchid

Appearance

Slender, hairy, 15-45 cm high; leaf very hairy, narrow-lanceolate, sheathing at the base; lamina 4-14 cm long.

Flowers 1 or 2, prevailing tints yellowish-green and reddish-brown; perianth-segments with a central reddish-brown stripe, spreading (with the exception of the dorsal sepal); sepals clavate, subequal; dorsal sepal incurved, 2.5-3 cm long, tapering from the base to a fine clavate point; lateral sepals dilated in the basal half, thereafter constricted into fine upturned clavate points; petals falcate, lanceolate, gradually tapering into fine non-clavate points, 2-2.5 cm long; labellum oblong or broadly lanceolate, 11-13 mm long (including the claw) and c. 4.5 mm wide, on a distinct movable claw, undivided, a dark reddish-brown, erect in the lower half, thereafter recurved, margin practically entire, tip generally acute, sometimes blunt, lamina almost flat; calli sessile (except near the claw), in 4 rows, rarely extending beyond the bend; column 10-12 mm, retracted at the base, thereafter erect or incurved, widely winged above, more narrowly below; 2 sessile yellow calli at the base; anther with a straight sharp point.

Distribution

Australia

Habitat

Occurs singly or in small groups in clay or gravelly soils in open to dense forest.