Chiloglottis reflexa, commonly known as the short-clubbed wasp orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-eastern Australia. It has two broad leaves and a single greenish-bronze or purplish flower with an ant-like callus covering most of the top of the labellum.
Chiloglottis reflexa is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with two egg-shaped to elliptic leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. A single greenish-bronze or purplish flower NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide is borne on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 high. The dorsal sepal is spatula-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The lateral sepals are linear, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, less than 1sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and curve downwards. There is a glandular tip NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long on the end of the dorsal sepal and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long on the lateral sepals. The petals are oblong, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, about 2.5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and turned downwards near the ovary. The labellum is held horizontally, diamond-shaped, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The callus resembles a large black ant surrounded by thin, stalked glands and covers most of the labellum. The column has narrow wings. Flowering occurs from December to May.[1] [2] [3]
This orchid species was first formally described in 1806 by Jacques Labillardière who gave it the name Epipactis reflexa and published the description in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.[4] In 1917 George Claridge Druce changed the name to Chiloglottis reflexa.[5] The specific epithet (reflexa) is a Latin word meaning "bent" or "turned back".[6]
The short-clubbed wasp orchid grows in a wide range of habitats but is most common in coastal and near-coastal forest and heath. It occurs in New South Wales south from the Blue Mountains, in southern Victoria and in Tasmania.