About Caladenia latifolia R.Br.
Caladenia latifolia, also commonly called pink fairies, is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber and often forms large colonies. It produces a single oblong to lance-shaped leaf, measuring 80–180 mm (3–7 in) long and 3–30 mm (0.1–1 in) wide. The leaf is green, densely hairy on both sides, and usually lies flat against the ground. Up to four pink flowers — rarely white with pink markings — each 20–40 mm (0.8–2 in) long and 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide, are borne on a stalk that grows 200–450 mm (8–20 in) tall. The outer surfaces of the sepals and petals are covered in glandular hairs and are a lighter shade of pink than the inner surfaces. The dorsal sepal is erect, oblong to lance-shaped, 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 13–17 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide, and spread widely apart. The petals are 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, also spread widely, and sometimes have a small number of irregular teeth along their edges. The labellum is 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide, pink or white in colour, and divided into three distinct lobes. The lateral lobes are narrow oblong, pink with dark stripes, and sometimes have small teeth along their edges. The mid-lobe is triangular, white with a pinkish tip, and has three or four long, linear teeth on each side. In the centre of the labellum, two rows of yellowish calli with white tips are arranged in a semi-circle. Flowering takes place from August to December. This orchid sometimes forms natural hybrids with Caladenia gardneri (cherry spider orchid) and Caladenia flava (cowslip orchid), and very rarely hybridises with Caladenia longicauda subsp. longicauda (large white spider orchid). Caladenia latifolia is distributed across Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. In Victoria, it mostly grows in near-coastal sandy areas and is only rarely found inland. In South Australia, it is widespread in the south-east, where it grows in sand in near-coastal regions. In Tasmania, it grows in coastal scrub and heath in the northern part of the island. In Western Australia, it occurs between Kalbarri in the north and Israelite Bay in the south, and grows in a wide range of habitats, from coastal heath to the margins of inland salt lakes.
