About Caladenia australis G.W.Carr
Caladenia australis G.W.Carr is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber. It produces a single hairy leaf that measures 5–17 cm (2–7 in) long and 4–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. Usually only one flower grows on a thin, wiry, sparsely hairy spike that reaches 12–30 cm (5–10 in) in height, and each open flower is 50–60 mm (2.0–2.4 in) across. The dorsal sepal curves forward or droops over the other parts of the flower. All three sepals are 20–60 mm (0.8–2 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide, tapering to a thin tip that bears dark red, club-like glands. The petals match the sepals in size and shape, but do not have glandular tips. Both petals and sepals spread widely, and sometimes droop near their ends; they are creamy-yellow, often marked with red streaks. The labellum is shiny and yellowish with a maroon tip, curves forward, and has its tip rolled under at the end. It is egg-shaped, measuring 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The edges of the labellum have many teeth up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long, and 4 to 6 rows of dark red calli run along the labellum's mid-line, decreasing in size toward the front. Flowering occurs between September and November, and is strongly boosted by summer fires that occurred the previous year. This orchid mostly grows in near-coastal areas of Victoria, Australia. While it has a widespread range across this region, it is also an uncommon species. It grows in heath and woodland habitats, usually on sandy soil. There is only one known record of this species from southern Flinders Island, collected in 1968.
