Chiloglottis trapeziformis
Fitzg.
Dainty bird orchid, Broad-lipped Bird Orchid
(c) mattward, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by mattward
(c) Di Luscombe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Tuber, Root
The tubers and roots are edible.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant. It grows on coastal scrub on soils rich in humus. It also grow in shady damp forest. It does best in rich, moist, well-drained soils in a protected shady position.
Australia*, Tasmania*,
How to Identify
A small orchid. It keeps growing from year to year but dies back in winter. It grows 8-12 cm high. There is one pair of leaves near the base. The leaves are oval to sword shaped. They are 5-8 cm long by 1.5-2.5 cm wide. There is a single flower on the end of the stem. The flowers are brownish green.
Nutrition Score: 16/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | 91 | 78 | 19 | 0.9 | — | — | 2.7 | 0.3 |
How to Grow
Plants can be grown by dividing the clump.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Chiloglottis trapeziformis, commonly known as broad-lip bird orchid, diamond ant orchid or dainty bird-orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has two narrow leaves and a narrow, greenish to purplish or brownish flower with a short, shiny black, ant-like callus covering the lower quarter of the diamond-shaped labellum. It has been recorded as a vagrant in New Zealand.
Production
It is easy to grow and multiplies easily.
Notes
There are about 8-30 Chiloglottis species in New Zealand and Australia.
Names & Synonyms
Erect ant orchid
References (6)
- Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 250
- Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 194
- Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1984, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 3. Lothian. p 25
- Harris, S., Buchanan, A., Connolly, A., 2001, One Hundred Islands: The Flora of the Outer Furneaux. Tas Govt. p 134
- Jones, D., Wapstra, H., Tonelli, P., and Harris S., 1999, The Orchids of Tasmania. Miegunyah Press, MUP, Victoria, Australia. p 110
- Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 72
