Calochilus paludosus
Brown Beard Orchid

PLANT: Terrestrial tuberous herb.
15 to 50cm high when in flower. Stem light green to yellow-green.

LEAVES: Single. Fleshy, long, narrow, light green to yellow-green. Very similar to a Sun Orchid leaf.

FLOWERS: Up to 6. Each 2 - 2.5cm in length, flaring widely when mature. Greenish with red stripes. Labellum base with small, acute calli and flap-shaped calli at the margins. Beard dull red. End of labellum with a long strap-shaped tip, which is often bent. Column wings lack the "eyes" found on the other 2 species of NZ Calochilus.

FLOWERING TIME: October - December.

HABITAT: Poor soils amongst scrub.

CONSERVATION STATUS: At Risk - Naturally Uncommon.

NOTES: The most widely distributed species of NZ Calochilus,
but still only rarely seen.