About Caladenia ornata (Nicholls) D.L.Jones
Caladenia ornata is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber. It produces a single leaf that is 60–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. One or two bright pink flowers, each 18–25 mm (0.7–1 in) long and wide, are borne on a stalk 90–150 mm (4–6 in) tall. The backs of the flowers are greenish-pink and covered in glandular hairs, and the front of the flowers is sometimes white in the centre. The dorsal sepal is held erect, and measures 9–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long by 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide, have a curved lance shape, and spread slightly outward. The petals are 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide, and spread widely. The labellum is 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide, dark pink with dark red bars. The sides of the labellum curve upward, the tip curves downward and bears a few short teeth, and two rows of yellow calli up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long run along the centre of the labellum. Flowering takes place from October to December. This species, commonly called ornate pink fingers, occurs in isolated populations near Portland, Cherrypool, Lake Fynes and Stawell in south-west Victoria, where it grows in heathy forest.
