Calochilus paludosus (Red Beard Orchid)

Sapphire Coast FloraCalochilus paludosus (Red Beard Orchid) Macrozamia communis (Burrawang)

Calochilus paludosus, is native orchid that is widespread in eastern Australia, where it grows in heath, open forest, both wet places, in areas of high rainfall areas and in drier open forests. It is also found in New Zealand.

Commonly known as the Red Beard Orchid, Beard Orchid or Red Beardie, Calochilus paludosus has a single fleshy, light green to yellowish-green, linear to lance-shaped leaf and up to nine greenish flowers with reddish stripes. The labellum has a dull red or coppery coloured beard and lacks the “eye” spots of other beard orchids.

The labellum is flat, approximately 22–28 mm long, 7–9 mm wide, with short, reddish calli near its base and a flap-like ridge on each outside edge. The middle section of the labellum has coarse, dull red to coppery coloured hairs up to 7 mm and the tip has a hairless “tail” 10–14 mm long and about 1 mm wide. The column lacks the sham “eyes” of most other beard orchids.