Spiranthes australis Lindl.

Leaves 3–5, obliquely erect in basal cluster, narrowly lanceolate, 80–160 × 6–10 mm, dark green, somewhat shiny. Flower stem 150–400 mm tall, 10–50-flowered. Flowers narrowly tubular, 4–5 × 2.5–3 mm, bright pink with a white labellum, rarely all white. Basal third to half of dorsal sepal and petals overlapping and forming a long tube, tips free. Dorsal sepal 4.5–5 × 1.7–2 mm, projected forwards, tip upturned. Lateral sepals 4–4.5 × 1.3–1.5 mm, projecting forwards close to labellum or slightly divergent. Petals 4–4.5 × 1 mm, upper margins wavy, tips recurved. Labellum distinctly 3-lobed, c. 4.5 × 3 mm when flattened, midlobe much narrower and shorter than base; base c. 3 × 3 mm, tubular, with 2 large, smooth, basal glands; midlobe c. 1.5 × 2 mm, margins narrow and not spreading widely, crinkled, lobed and fringed. Column c. 3 mm long.

Widely distributed and often locally common in coastal lowlands, extending to adjacent ranges, but not in montane or subalpine areas. Found growing among grass, shrubs and sedges in a range of habitats, often where there is abundant soil moisture such as in bogs, marshes, swamps, sedge lands and around soaks and springs; also occurs in well-drained sites among grass and colonises lawns, nature strips, drainage ditches and pasture in high rainfall areas.