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Flora and Fauna - Wild flowers and Wildlife in Australia

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Wax-lip Orchid

Glossodia major

Glossodia major
• Common name
• Classification
• Images

• Orchidaceae
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Wax-lip Orchid • Glossodia major
This erect perennial grows to about 30 cm high and common in heath, open forest, grasslands, and stabilised sand dunes. Often found growing in colonies.

Flower:
Varies from a mauve-purple to a purple-blue colour, becoming white near the base and on the labellum. There is also a white variety. It has a flower span of up to about 4.5 cm across and is usually found as a solitary flower.

Leaves:
lanceolate to 1 cm long and up to 2 cm wide.

Following image from Warrumbungle National Park, New South Wales.

Common name Where Found
Wax-lip Orchid Common and widespread in heath, open forest and on sandstone regions of Australia, including NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC.
Parson in the Pulpit
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Caladeniinae
Genus: Glossodia
Species: G. major
Botanical Name: Glossodia major
Wax-lip Orchid • Images
Wax-lip Orchid (Glossodia major), Warrumbungle National Park, NSW.
Wax-lip Orchid (Glossodia major), Warrumbungle National Park, NSW
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