Calochilus metallicus, commonly known as the metallic beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tropical Queensland. It has a single dark green leaf and up to four pale green flowers with a pinkish or reddish "beard" on the labellum.
Calochilus metallicus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single dark green leaf which is only partially developed at flowering time, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide when fully developed. Up to four pale green flowers with darker markings, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide are borne on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The dorsal sepal is NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and about 5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The lateral sepals are a similar length but about narrower. The petals are about 6sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The labellum is flat, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, about 5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and green with red markings. The labellum is mostly covered with thin, metallic hairs NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, except for the tip which is hairless. Flowering occurs from December to February but each flower only lasts only a few hours.[1]
Calochilus metallicus was first formally described in 2004 by David Jones and the description was published in The Orchadian from specimens collected near the Wenlock River.[2] The specific epithet (metallicus) is derived from the Ancient Greek word metallon.[3]
The metallic beard orchid grows with grasses in low lying places on Cape York and on islands in the Torres Strait including Moa Island.