Wollongong bird orchid facts for kids

The Chiloglottis chlorantha, also known as the Wollongong bird orchid, is a unique type of orchid. It is found only in a small area of New South Wales, Australia. This orchid has two wide leaves. It grows a single flower that is green or yellowish-green. This flower has about twelve small, colorful bumps called glands on its special lower petal, called the labellum. These glands can be reddish, yellowish, or bright green.

What Does the Wollongong Bird Orchid Look Like?

The Wollongong bird orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant is a herb, not a woody plant like a tree.

It has two oval-shaped leaves. These leaves are about 2.7 to 4.0 centimeters (1.1 to 1.6 inches) long. They are also about 1.0 to 1.8 centimeters (0.39 to 0.71 inches) wide. Each leaf sits on a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 3 to 6 millimeters (0.12 to 0.24 inches) long.

The Flower

A single flower grows on a stem about 3.5 to 5.5 centimeters (1.4 to 2.2 inches) tall. The flower itself is green to yellowish-green. It is about 1.7 to 2.0 centimeters (0.67 to 0.79 inches) long. It can be 2.5 to 3.0 centimeters (0.98 to 1.18 inches) wide.

• The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, is shaped like an egg. It is about 1.7 to 2.0 centimeters long and 6 to 9 millimeters wide.
• The side sepals are green. They are about 1.4 to 1.6 centimeters long and 2 millimeters wide. They stand up straight at first, then curve downwards. Each sepal has a tiny tip about 1 millimeter long.
• The petals are curved and shaped like a spear. They are about 1.3 to 1.5 centimeters long and 4.5 to 6 millimeters wide. They spread out wide from each other.
• The labellum is the orchid's special lower petal. It is broadly egg-shaped or heart-shaped. It measures about 1.2 to 1.3 centimeters long and 9 to 12 millimeters wide.
• About two-thirds of the labellum's top surface is covered by a bumpy area called a callus. This callus has about twelve small glands. These glands can be reddish, yellowish, or bright green. They can be up to 3.5 millimeters long.
• The column is a central part of the flower. It is green with reddish spots. It is about 1.1 to 1.2 centimeters long and 5 millimeters wide. It has wide "wings."

This orchid usually flowers in September and October.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The Wollongong bird orchid was officially described in 1991. It was named by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of this orchid near Wollongong, a city in Australia. The description was published in a scientific book called Australian Orchid Research.

The second part of its scientific name, chlorantha, comes from two Ancient Greek words:

• chloros means "green"
• anthos means "flower"

So, chlorantha simply means "green flower," which describes the color of this orchid's bloom.

Where Does the Wollongong Bird Orchid Grow?

The Wollongong bird orchid lives in moist, protected areas. It grows under shrubs. You can find it mainly in the region from near Sydney all the way to the New England area in New South Wales.