About Caladenia lorea Hopper & A.P.Br.
Caladenia lorea is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber. It produces a single erect, hairy leaf that measures 120–200 mm (5–8 in) long and 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide. Up to three cream, pink, and red flowers are borne on a stalk 250–400 mm (10–20 in) tall; each flower is 100–160 mm (4–6 in) long and 70–120 mm (3–5 in) wide. The sepals and petals have thin, light brown, club-shaped glandular tips that are 10–70 mm (0.4–3 in) long. The erect dorsal sepal is 35–100 mm (1–4 in) long and 1.5–4 mm (0.06–0.2 in) wide, while the lateral sepals are 35–100 mm (1–4 in) long and 3–7 mm (0.12–0.28 in) wide. The petals measure 30–90 mm (1–4 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. Both the lateral sepals and petals spread widely near their bases and curve downwards toward their tips. The labellum is 17–27 mm (0.7–1 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide, pink with a curled under dark red tip. The sides of the labellum bear thin teeth up to 8 mm (0.3 in) long, and four rows of dark red calli up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long run along its centre. Flowering takes place from August to early October. This species often hybridises with Caladenia longicauda, producing a range of intermediate forms.
Commonly known as the blushing spider orchid, this species occurs between Yanchep and Leeman, with an isolated population located south of Bunbury. It is found in the Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions, where it grows in areas that are wet during winter.
