Austral. Orch. 1 (7): t. 8 (1882) APNI
Taxonomic status:Accepted
Occurrence status:Present
Establishment means:Native
Threat status:EPBC: vulnerable (VU); Victoria: endangered (e); listed in Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
Flowering plant 15–25 cm tall. Leaf 8–15 cm long, 8–10 mm wide. Flowers 1 or 2; perianth segments 2.5–4 cm long, dark purplish-red to crimson; sepals flattened at base, 2–3 mm wide, gradually tapered to a long tail, densely covered in crowded, ovoid to ellipsoid glands; petals shorter than sepals but otherwise similar. Labellum curved forward with apex recurved and lateral lobes erect, lamina ovate to broadly ovate-lanceolate, obscurely 3-lobed, 11–13 mm long, 8–10 mm wide (when flattened), dark purplish-red; margins of lateral lobes fringed with linear calli to 1 mm long; margins of mid-lobe with shorter calli becoming fused towards tip; lamina calli in 4 crowded rows, the central rows extending well onto mid-lobe, narrow, foot-shaped, c. 2 mm long at base of lamina, decreasing in size towards apex. Flowers Sep.–Oct.
CVU, Gold, HNF, HSF, NIS, VAlp, VRiv, VVP. Also SA, NSW. Sporadic and uncommon in dry open-forests, mostly of north-eastern Victoria, on ridges and slopes in well-drained shallow stony or skeletal soils.
Characterized by its wholly purplish-red flowers. Has been confused with other similar taxa: see Caladenia clavescens and C. formosa.
| Bioregion | Occurrence status | Establishment means | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victorian Volcanic Plain | present | native | |
| Victorian Riverina | present | native | |
| Goldfields | present | native | |
| Central Victorian Uplands | present | native | |
| Northern Inland Slopes | present | native | |
| Highlands-Southern Fall | present | native | |
| Highlands-Northern Fall | present | native | |
| Victorian Alps | present | native |
| State |
|---|
| South Australia |
| New South Wales |
| Victoria |
