About Caladenia strigosa (D.L.Jones) R.J.Bates
Caladenia strigosa is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber. It produces a single dull green, hairy leaf that is linear to lance-shaped, measuring 60–100 mm (2–4 in) long and 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide, with purple blotches near its base. Both the leaf and the flowering stem are densely covered in erect white hairs. A single greenish-cream flower with fine reddish streaks, measuring 30–40 mm (1–2 in) across, is borne on a flowering stem 120–200 mm (5–8 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide, oblong near the base, then tapers to a thick glandular tip 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. The lateral sepals are lance-shaped to egg-shaped near their bases, 25–30 mm (0.98–1.2 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide, and taper to narrow glandular tips 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long. The petals are 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide, and taper to a thin, pointed tip. The labellum is egg-shaped, 11–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) wide, with four to eight pairs of triangular, dark purplish-red teeth along its edges. The tip of the labellum curls downward, and four rows of calli up to 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long run along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in September and October. This spider orchid grows in shrubland on sandy soil within Coorong National Park.
