Australian Native Plants

  Cryptostylis subulata (Large Tongue Orchid)


Cryptostylis subulata photo
Probably Cryptostylis subulata

Photograph by Poyt448 Peter Woodard. License: Public Domain.    (view image details)




LARGE TONGUE ORCHID FACTS

distribution map showing range of Cryptostylis subulata in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License


Common Name
Large Tongue Orchid

Description
The Large Tongue Orchid is a ground orchid from south eastern Australia. the plant produces up to fourteen flowers. The flower has a large labellum which is green becoming red towards the tip. There are dark stripes along the inside of the labellum ending on a warty callus near the tip. The green petals and sepals are long and narrow, and much less prominent than the labellum. Flowering is in spring and summer from October to March. The leaves are dark green, long and lance shaped growing to 30 cm long and 3 cm wide.

Habitat
found in swampy heathland and also in eucalypt woodland in coastal areas and ranges

Distribution
The Large Tongue Orchid is found in eastern New South Wales, south east Queensland, Victoria, eastern South Australia and Tasmania

Growth Characteristics
Height: 80cm
Classification
Class:Liliopsida
Order:Asparagales
Family:Orchidaceae
Genus:Cryptostylis
Species:subulata
Common Name:Large Tongue Orchid


Relatives in same Genus
  Cryptostylis erecta
  Cryptostylis hunteriana
  Cryptostylis leptochila