Chiloglottis palachila, commonly known as the spade-lipped wasp orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to some of the higher places in northern New South Wales. It has two leaves and a single green to greenish pink flower with a black, ant-like callus on the base of the labellum. The tips of the lateral sepals have distinctive swollen, brown glandular tips.
Chiloglottis palachila is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with two elliptic leaves lying flat on the ground, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide on a petiole NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long . A single green to greenish pink flower NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide is borne on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 high. The dorsal sepal is linear to spatula-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide with a narrow glandular tip a further 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. The lateral sepals are linear but tapered, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, about 1sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and curve strongly downwards with a swollen brown glandular tip about 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. The petals are oblong, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and turned downwards near the sides of the ovary. The labellum is spade-shaped, held horizontally, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. About one-third of the base of the labellum is covered with a black, ant-like callus about 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. The column has prominent reddish striations and is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, about 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide with broad wings. Flowering occurs from April to June.[1] [2] [3]
Chiloglottis palachila was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones and Mark Clements from a specimen collected at Barrington Tops and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[4] Jones notes that the specific epithet (palachila) is "from the Latin palachilus meaning "spade-shaped".
The spade-lipped wasp orchid grows in open forest near rainforest, especially near streams, but also under low shrubs on exposed peaks. It occurs in disjunct populations at Point Lookout, Barrington Tops and Mount Kaputar National Park.