Chiloglottis sphaerula facts for kids

Chiloglottis sphaerula is a unique type of orchid that only grows in a small area of New South Wales, Australia. It has two dark green leaves. Its flower can be green or reddish-pink. A cool part of this orchid is its shiny black, insect-like part called a callus. This callus covers most of the flower's lip, but the very tip is left clear.

What it Looks Like

Chiloglottis sphaerula is a plant that grows from the ground. It lives for many years, but its leaves die back each year. It is a soft plant, not woody. It has two leaves shaped like eggs, about 4.5 to 5.5 centimeters (1.8-2.2 inches) long. These leaves are 1.5 to 2 centimeters (0.6-0.8 inches) wide. They sit on a small stem called a petiole, which is about 0.5 to 1.2 centimeters (0.2-0.5 inches) long.

A single flower grows on a stem that is 8 to 12 centimeters (3.1-4.7 inches) tall. The flower itself is 2 to 2.5 centimeters (0.8-1.0 inches) long. It can be green or reddish-pink.

The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, looks like a spatula or an egg. It is about 1.4 to 1.6 centimeters (0.6 inches) long and 0.3 to 0.6 centimeters (0.1-0.2 inches) wide. The side sepals are thin and straight. They are about 1.4 to 1.7 centimeters (0.6-0.7 inches) long and 0.15 centimeters (0.06 inches) wide. They stand up at first, then bend downwards.

Each sepal has a small, sticky tip. The tip on the top sepal is about 0.2 centimeters (0.08 inches) long. The tips on the side sepals are longer, about 0.3 to 0.6 centimeters (0.1-0.2 inches) long.

The petals are shaped like narrow eggs. They are 1.2 to 1.5 centimeters (0.5-0.6 inches) long and about 0.4 centimeters (0.2 inches) wide. They also bend downwards.

The most interesting part is the labellum, which is the flower's lip. It is shaped like a wedge or a small shovel. It is about 1.2 to 1.4 centimeters (0.5-0.6 inches) long and 0.8 centimeters (0.3 inches) wide.

On the labellum, there is a shiny black, insect-like part called a callus. This callus is about 0.2 centimeters (0.08 inches) long and 0.25 centimeters (0.1 inches) wide. It covers about two-thirds of the labellum's base. Many smaller, dark reddish, club-shaped calli surround this main black callus. These can be up to 0.2 centimeters (0.08 inches) long. The very tip of the labellum has no calli at all.

The central part of the flower, called the column, is pale green with reddish spots. It is about 0.95 to 1.05 centimeters (0.4 inches) long and 0.4 centimeters (0.2 inches) wide. It has narrow parts that look like wings. This orchid usually blooms from December to February.

How it Got its Name

The Chiloglottis sphaerula orchid was officially described in 2006. It was named by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the plant in the Barrington Tops National Park. The description was then published in a scientific book called Australian Orchid Research.

The second part of its name, sphaerula, comes from a Latin word. It means "ball." This name refers to the round shape of the "head" of the insect-like callus on the flower's lip.

Before it got its official name, this orchid was known as Chiloglottis sp. aff. sphyrnoides (Northern Tablelands).

Where it Lives

This special orchid grows in tall, damp forests. You can find it in the southern part of the Northern Tablelands area and in the Barrington Tops National Park.