About Caladenia hillmanii D.L.Jones
Caladenia hillmanii is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber. It produces a single, sparsely hairy, dark green linear leaf, which measures 60–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. One or two bright pink flowers, each about 25 mm (1 in) across, are borne on a stalk 150–250 mm (6–10 in) tall. The backs of the sepals and petals are greenish and densely covered with brownish glands. The dorsal sepal stands erect, is linear to lance-shaped, and measures 13–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. The lateral sepals and petals are 12–20 mm (0.5–0.8 in) long, 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, lance-shaped, and slightly sickle-shaped. The labellum is egg-shaped, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide, with upturned sides and a rolled-under tip. It is dark reddish-pink to reddish-purple, marked with darker, narrow red stripes, and has two rows of yellow calli along its mid-line. The tip of the labellum is bright yellow, with two blunt dark yellow teeth. Flowering takes place in September and October. This orchid, commonly called purple-heart fingers, grows in coastal forest in sandy soil, ranging from Nelson Bay to Ulladulla.
