About Caladenia reticulata Fitzg.
Caladenia reticulata is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber. It produces a single hairy leaf, which is 70–120 mm (3–5 in) long and 3–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide. One flower, which ranges in color from yellowish-green with red markings to fully red, grows on a flowering spike 100–300 mm (4–10 in) tall. The sepals of this orchid have dark, narrow, club-like glandular tips that measure 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) in length. The dorsal sepal is erect at its base, curves forward, and is 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long. Lateral sepals are 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide, and they spread outward. The petals are slightly shorter and narrower than the lateral sepals, and taper to narrow, thread-like tips. The labellum is 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide, and is red or yellowish-green with red markings. The sides of the labellum sometimes bear teeth up to 1.3 mm (0.05 in) long, and there are four or six rows of calli. These calli are 1.3 mm (0.05 in) long near the base of the labellum, and decrease in size toward the tip. Flowering occurs between September and November. This species, commonly called the veined spider orchid, is widespread but localised. In Victoria, it grows near Stawell, Ararat, Horsham and Dunolly, most commonly in open woodland. In South Australia, it is found in the Southern Lofty and Kangaroo Island bioregions, where it grows on forested slopes.
