Triangular ant orchid facts for kids

Chiloglottis trullata, also called the triangular orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in Queensland, Australia. This orchid has two dark green leaves. It also has one small flower that can be green or pinkish. The flower has a shiny, dark reddish-black part called a callus. This part looks a bit like an insect! It's surrounded by other reddish, club-shaped bumps on the flower's lip.

What the Triangular Orchid Looks Like

The triangular orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant has two dark green leaves that lie close to the ground. These leaves are shaped like an oval or ellipse. They are about 50–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) wide. Each leaf has a short stem, or petiole, about 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long.

A single flower grows on a stem that is 50–75 mm (2–3 in) tall. The flower itself is small, about 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. It can be green or pinkish.

Flower Parts

The flower has different parts:

• The top petal, called the dorsal sepal, is shaped like a spatula. It is about 10–11 mm (0.39–0.43 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide.
• The two side petals, called lateral sepals, are thin and straight. They are about 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. They curve downwards and away from each other.
• All three sepals have a tiny, sticky tip about 1 mm (0.04 in) long.
• The main petals are shaped like a spear, wider at the base. They are 8–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide. They also turn downwards.

The most interesting part is the labellum, which is the flower's lip. It is shaped like a small garden trowel. It measures 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. On this labellum, there's a shiny, dark reddish-black part that looks like an insect. This "insect" part has a "head" that looks like handlebars. It is about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. This special "insect" part and other small bumps cover most of the labellum's top surface.

The central part of the flower, called the column, is pale green with some purple spots. It is 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. It has narrow "wings" on its sides. This orchid usually blooms in July and August.

How it Got its Name

The triangular orchid, Chiloglottis trullata, was officially described in 1991. A botanist named David Jones first wrote about it. He found a sample of the plant in the Blackdown Tableland National Park. His description was published in a scientific book called Australian Orchid Research.

The second part of its scientific name, trullata, comes from a Latin word. "Trullata" means "trowel". This name was chosen because the flower's lip, or labellum, is shaped like a small garden trowel.

Where the Triangular Orchid Lives

The triangular ant orchid grows in tall forests. You can find it near sandstone rocks in the Blackdown Tableland National Park in Queensland.