Chiloglottis triceratops, commonly known as the three-horned bird orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has two broad leaves and a greenish brown to purplish brown flower with a few column-like calli near the mid-line of the labellum.
Chiloglottis triceratops is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with two leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. A single greenish brown to purplish brown flower NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide is borne on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 high. The dorsal sepal is spatula-shaped to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The lateral sepals are linear to narrow lance-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and about 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. There is a glandular tip NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long on the end of all three sepals. The petals are lance-shaped but curved, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide and curve forwards. The labellum is broadly egg-shaped to heart-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide with a brown to black column-like callus NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall in the centre surrounded by similar but shorter calli. The column is greenish brown with dark red streaks, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide with narrow wings. Flowering occurs from November to January.[1] [2]
Chiloglottis triceratops was first formally described in 1998 by David Jones and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[3] The specific epithet (triceratops) refers to the similarity between the dinosaur Triceratops and the tall calli on the labellum of this orchid.
The three-horned bird orchid is widespread and common in Tasmania, growing in shrubby and heathy forest, often in dense colonies.