Glossodia major

Common Name:

Waxlip Orchid

Family:

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Murray Mallee, Lowan Mallee, Gippsland Highlands, Snowfields (CDEHJKMNPRSTVWXZ) also SA, Qld, NSW, Tas
Map - Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Distribution and ecological preference at Wilsons Promontory (if known):

Dry forests and woodlands, usually in moist sites such as at the foot of rock outcrops ¹

Flower Description:

Mauve to purple, sometimes blue [1[

Habit:

Terrestrial orchid to 35 cm tall ¹

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):

The leaf is hairy and to 10 cm long. Flowers are fragrant and quite large (to 50 mm wide). The labellum is pink with a white base and a yellow spot at the base ^1,2

Images:

Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia MELU

Links to description of this species:

VicFlora

Conservation status:

Not threatened

References:

¹ Meagher, D. and Kohout, M. (2001). “A field guide to Wilsons Promontory”. Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Vic.
² Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. “Flora of Victoria”, volumes 2 (1994), 3 (1996) and 4 (1999). Inkata Press, Port Melbourne, Victoria