small wasp orchid

Chiloglottis sylvestris is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with two leaves 30–60 mm (1–2 in) long and 12–20 mm (0.5–0.8 in) wide. A single greenish pink flower 20–26 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide is borne on a flowering stem 30–50 mm (1–2 in) high. The dorsal sepal is linear to spatula-shaped, 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 2–2.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. The lateral sepals are linear, 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long, about 0.5 mm (0.02 in) wide and curve downwards and away from each other. There is a glandular tip 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long on all three sepals. The petals are lance-shaped, 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and turn downwards towards the ovary. The labellum is diamond-shaped, 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. There is a reddish black, insect-like callus covering about two-thirds of the middle of the base of the labellum. This large callus is surrounded by many fine, radiating, reddish, club-shaped calli and smaller red calli. The column has narrow wings. Flowering occurs from December to May.

Small wasp orchid grows in moist places in tall forest and rainforest between Eungella in Queensland and Robertson in New South Wales.