About Caladenia gemmata Lindl.
Caladenia gemmata Lindl. (also referred to as Cyanicula gemmata) is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber. This orchid produces a single dark green, shiny leaf, measuring 20 to 40 mm long and 10 to 20 mm wide, with a purplish underside. Its stalk grows 40 to 150 mm tall, and bears up to three intense blue to purplish flowers, each 20 to 50 mm long and wide. The dorsal sepal stands erect, measuring 20 to 30 mm long and 5 to 10 mm wide. Lateral sepals and petals have roughly the same size dimensions as the dorsal sepal. The labellum is 5 to 8 mm long and 5 to 7 mm wide, coloured purple and blue, and curves downward near its tip. Many small, scattered, bead-like calli cover the entire surface of the labellum. Flowering takes place between August and early November. This common and widespread china orchid occurs between Kalbarri in the north and Israelite Bay in the east, and grows in a range of habitats from heath to forest. Individual plants growing in wetter locations typically flower more abundantly after summer fires.
