Scientific Name: Chiloglottis valida

Common Name: large bird-orchid

Family Classification (Clade): Monocots

Family: Orchidaceae

Threatened Species Status: Endangered

Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.

Form Description: A larger, leatherish, bird orchid. A pair of elliptical dark-green leaves.

Height (m): 0.04 – 0.07

Flowers: Single, erect greenish-purple flower with shiny black calli. Large flat, mobile, heart-shaped labellum. Pollinated by male thynnine wasps that attempt to mate with the labellum.

Municipality
King IslandLaunceston
Plant Communities
No data available for this species
Habitat Notes

Grows in sheltered, mostly moist, coastal lowland areas, sometimes up to 800m altitude.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Specialist Method

Seed Information

Seed Treatment Notes

Orchid seeds are very minute yellow, brown or blackish dust-like particles. Orchid seeds are produced within a capsule that splits at maturity and releases thousands to millions of seeds. Dispersed by wind and water and only germinate following infection of the embryo by a suitable mycorrhizal fungus. Very few seeds become mature plants. For more information see Jones, Wapstra, Tonelli, Harris (1999): The Orchids of Tasmania.