Glossodia major
R.Br. Wax-lip OrchidFlowering plant 10–35 cm tall. Leaf oblong to oblong-lanceolate, hairy, 3–10 cm long. Flowers 1–2, purple to mauve (rarely white), fragrant; petals and sepals elliptic-lanceolate, 15–25 mm long, 4–9 mm wide; bases white with purple spots, outer surface light-coloured and hairy. Labellum erect but soon recurved forward, elongate-cordate, 6–10 mm long, 5–6 mm wide, white and pubescent at base, dilated on either side of longitudinal central furrow, purple and glabrous at apex; extreme base with large purple appendage topped by a broad, fleshy, yellow, deeply notched, 2-lobed head. Column broadly winged, especially in upper part; anther with acute point. Flowers Aug.–Nov.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, VAlp. Also SA, Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas. Widespread in drier open-forests, woodland and coastal heath throughout most of Victoria.
Glossodia major forms very rare natural hybrids with Cyanicula caerulea (e.g. Maryborough area), G. minor (e.g. Mallacoota) and Pheladenia deformis, the latter hybrid referred to ×Phelodia tutelata.
Entwisle, T.J. (1994). Orchidaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 740–901. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
