Common name: Waxlip Orchid
Glossodia major R.Br. APNI* 
Description: Very slender terrestrial herb, 12–32 cm high.
Leaf oblong or lanceolate, 4–15 cm long, hairy, drying with a vanilla-like perfume.
Flowers 1 or 2, rarely 3, purple or occasionally pure white, variable in size, but up to 6 c. in diam. Sepals and petals 15–30 mm long, lanceolate, pale underneath. Labellum ovate-lanceolate, contracted at the base, 8–11 mm long, straight; basal portion white and pubescent, dilated laterally into 2 bosses with a furrow between; anterior portion purple, glabrous; basal callus solitary, purple, with 2-lobed yellow head. Column incurved above; anther acute.
Flowering: August–October
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread and common in sclerophyll forest, woodland and coastal heath; from coastal sites, inland to Ardlethan district.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. S.A.
Text by P. Bernhardt
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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