About Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii F.Muell.
Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii F.Muell., commonly known as the ravine orchid, is a lithophytic herb that forms large clumps on rocks. Its stems grow 200–500 mm (7.9–20 in) long. The plant produces between four and eight dark green, linear leaves that measure 100–200 mm (3.9–7.9 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide. Four to fifteen white flowers, marked with many crimson spots near the centre and measuring 25–30 mm (0.98–1.2 in) in both length and width, are arranged on an arching flowering stem 100–250 mm (3.9–9.8 in) long. The sepals and petals are 12–17 mm (0.47–0.67 in) long and 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) wide; the dorsal sepal is slightly shorter and narrower than the lateral sepals, and the petals are narrower than both sepals. The labellum is thick and waxy, about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 7 mm (0.28 in) wide, with three lobes. Its side lobes are erect, while the middle lobe is short and fleshy. Flowering occurs between October and November. This orchid usually grows on rocks in dense rainforest or shady gorges and ravines, and sometimes grows on the base of fibrous-barked trees. It is distributed in the area between Maleny in south-east Queensland and the Macleay River in New South Wales.
