Lyperanthus suaveolens R.Br. APNI* 
Description: Slender terrestrial herb, 18–44 cm high, not turning black on drying.
Leaf ± erect, broad-linear or linear to lanceolate, 12–26 cm long, to 1.2 cm wide, margins narrowly reflexed, stiff, leathery, upper surface dark green, lower surface pale or mealy.
Inflorescence to 45 cm high, tough and wiry, 2–8-flowered; stem bracts 1–3, loose. Flowers yellowish brown, brown or dark reddish brown, (sometimes fragrant in warm weather), to 3 cm diam., with large bracts. Perianth segments to 3 cm long, stiff and leathery, fairly narrow, margins often incurved. Dorsal sepal incurved closely over the column, narrow-lanceolate, acuminate, c. 2 cm long; lateral sepals as long or nearly so, linear, downcurved, divergent. Petals obliquely erect or spreading. Labellum curved in a gentle semicircle, 3-lobed, 9–10 mm long, the basal part erect with 2 short blunt entire column-embracing, lateral lobes; midlobe ovate-oblong, blunt, yellow, recurved, entire. Lamina calli sessile, rounded or flat and overlapping, covering most of the upper surface. Column c. 7 mm long, incurved, winged. Anther acute. Pollinia 4.
Flowering: August– November
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in sclerophyll forest and coastal scrubs; widespread in coastal districts.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, CWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas.
Text by P. Bernhardt
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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