About Calochilus herbaceus Lindl.
Calochilus herbaceus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber. It produces a single fleshy, channelled leaf that is 30–60 mm (1–2 in) long, 6–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide, and triangular in cross section. Between one and eight pale green to brownish flowers with reddish stripes grow on a flowering stem 150–400 mm (6–20 in) tall. Individual flowers measure 14–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.
The erect dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, and 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) wide. The lateral sepals are also egg-shaped, and match the dorsal sepal in length and width. The petals are lance-shaped to egg-shaped, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide, and spread below the labellum. The labellum itself is triangular, curved when viewed from the side, 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long, and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. The base of the labellum holds between two and six smooth, metallic blue plates, while the middle section has a small number of bristly purple hairs. The tip of the labellum bears a short glandular "tail" approximately 3 mm (0.12 in) long. The column has two false "eyes" connected by a faint ridge. Flowering takes place from October to January, though each individual flower only lasts for one or two days.
In Australia, this orchid grows in wet coastal scrub, sedge vegetation, and heath in southern Victoria and Tasmania, including Flinders Island and King Island. In New Zealand, it occurs in scattered populations across ephemeral wetlands and peat bogs in Northland, ranging from Te Paki south to Albany, Auckland.
