Overview
Chiloglottis valida is a small terrestrial orchid that grows from an underground tuber and often forms colonies. Each plant produces two broad ground-hugging leaves 3-8 cm (1.2-3.1 in) long, dull green with a slightly puckered surface, lying flat or close to the soil. Between them rises a single stem 5-15 cm (2-6 in) tall bearing one flower 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 in) across. The flower is greenish to dark reddish-brown, with narrow pointed sepals and petals and a broad heart-shaped labellum carrying a dense cluster of dark stalked glands that mimic the body of a female wasp. This decoy draws male thynnine wasps that attempt to mate with it and so transfer pollen. Flowering occurs in spring and early summer, after which the plant dies back to its tuber. It grows in moist shaded forest and woodland with deep leaf litter in southeastern Australia, often in cool gullies. As a tuberous terrestrial orchid tied to specific soil fungi and pollinating wasps, it is hard to cultivate and rarely persists outside native habitat.
Native Range
Native to southeastern Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory, in moist shaded forest, woodland, and gullies with deep leaf litter.Suggested Uses
Grown by terrestrial-orchid specialists in pots of free-draining humus-rich mix and in native habitat conservation. Its dormancy and fungal needs suit dedicated collections rather than mixed plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 6"
Width/Spread2" - 6"
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Greenish to dark reddish-brownFoliage Description
Dull greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 1-4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight