About Caladenia marginata Lindl.
Caladenia marginata Lindl. is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber, and often forms dense colonies. This species produces a single broad, pale green, hairy leaf that measures 40–120 mm (2–5 in) long and about 15 mm (0.6 in) wide. Up to four flowers, which are most often creamy-white and rarely pink, are borne on a stalk 80–200 mm (3–8 in) tall. Each flower is 2–30 mm (0.08–1 in) long and wide. The back surface of the sepals and petals is rusty-brown. The erect dorsal sepal is 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. Lateral sepals are 13–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide, spreading stiffly away from the flower center. Petals are 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, and spread in the same manner as the lateral sepals. The labellum is 6.5–8 mm (0.26–0.31 in) long and wide, with a few short teeth along its edges and two rows of yellowish calli in its center. Flowering occurs from late September to November, and is most prolific after fire occurs in the previous summer. While superficially similar to the white or pink forms of Caladenia latifolia (pink fairies), C. marginata flowers later, produces smaller flowers, and has brown hairs on the back of its floral segments. Common name white fairies, this orchid is distributed between Jurien Bay in the north-west and Israelite Bay in the south-east of Western Australia. It grows in swamps and in shallow soil on granite outcrops, within the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions.
