Calochilus campestris
Copper beard orchid
This unusual deciduous terrestrial orchid grows in open forest and is rarely seen. This genus has the common name Bearded Orchid due to the resemblance to an bearded man caused by the two ‘eyes’ at the base of the column and the prominent ‘bearded’ labellum.
It has a fleshy dark green leaf to 30 cm by 10 mm. The flower stem grows to about 60 cm with up to 15 flowers about 18 mm across. The flowers are very distinctive with the labellum covered in purple and cream hairs with a smooth plate at the base of the labellum.
This Calochilus cannot be confused with any other orchid as the hairs and smooth plate on the labellum is distinctive and unique.