Chiloglottis sphyrnoides

Chiloglottis sphyrnoides is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with two egg-shaped to elliptic leaves {{convert|35-85|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|15-23|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide on a petiole {{convert|5-15|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long. A single green or reddish pink flower {{convert|18-22|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|7-9|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide is borne on a flowering stem {{convert|50-90|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} high. The dorsal sepal is spatula-shaped, {{convert|16-18|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3-4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. The lateral sepals are linear, {{convert|13-17|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, about {{convert|1|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and curve downwards. There is a glandular tip {{convert|2-2.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long on the end of the dorsal sepal and {{convert|4-6|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long on the lateral sepals. The petals are narrow oblong, {{convert|11-13|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, about {{convert|4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and turn downwards towards the ovary. The labellum is broadly spatula-shaped, {{convert|10-12|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|7-8.5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} wide. There is a shiny black, insect-like callus about {{convert|2|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and wide near the base of the labellum. This large callus is surrounded by reddish, club-shaped calli and small red calli. The column is green with purplish black blotches, {{convert|9-10|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and about {{convert|4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide with narrow wings. Flowering occurs from December to April.{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories|date=2006|publisher=New Holland|location=Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.|isbn=1877069124|page =140}}{{cite journal|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae|journal=Australian Orchid Research|date=1991|volume=2|pages=41–42}}{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=Chiloglottis sphyrnoides|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Chiloglottis~sphyrnoides|publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney|accessdate=23 April 2018}}

Chiloglottis sphyrnoides was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones from a specimen collected in the Lamington National Park and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.{{cite web|title=Chiloglottis sphyrnoides|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/551603|publisher=APNI|accessdate=23 April 2018}} The specific epithet (sphyrnoides) refers to the similarity of the shape of the large callus on the labellum resembling the head of a shark in the genus Sphyrna. The ending -oides is derived from an Ancient Greek word εἶδος (eîdos), meaning “form" or "likeness”.{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page=483}}

The forest wasp orchid grows in moist places in tall forest near Nowendoc and in the Lamington National Park.

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• {{Wikispecies-inline|Chiloglottis sphyrnoides|Chiloglottis sphyrnoides}}

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sphyrnoides

Category:Orchids of New South Wales

Category:Orchids of Queensland

Category:Plants described in 1991