Chiloglottis formicifera
# Chiloglottis formicifera

Chiloglottis formicifera, commonly known as the common ant orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has two broad leaves and a single narrow, greenish or reddish flower with a black, ant-like callus covering most of the upper surface of the labellum. There is a single record of this species from New Zealand.

## Description

Chiloglottis formicifera is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with two leaves 30–60 mm (1–2 in) long and 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) wide. A single greenish or reddish flower 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide is borne on a flowering stem 60–100 mm (2–4 in) high. The dorsal sepal is spatula-shaped, 10–12.5 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long, about 0.7 mm (0.03 in) wide and erect at the base then curve downwards. There is a glandular tip about 0.5 mm (0.02 in) long on the end of all three sepals. The petals are lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and turned strongly downwards. The labellum is diamond-shaped, 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 6–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide with a narrow, shiny black, ant-like callus covering most of its upper surface. Flowering occurs from August to November.

## Taxonomy and naming

Chiloglottis formicifera was first formally described in 1877 by Robert D. FitzGerald and the description was published in his book Australian Orchids from a specimen collected "in a gully at the Kurrajong". The specific epithet (formicifera) is derived from the Latin word formica meaning $"ant"^{:93}$ with the suffix -fera meaning "bear", "carry" or $"have".^{:187}$

## Distribution and habitat

The common ant orchid grows in moist places in forest between the Northern Tablelands and Nowra. There is a single historical record from Kaitaia in New Zealand.

