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Electronic Flora of South Australia species Fact Sheet

Family: Orchidaceae
Caladenia leptochila

Citation: Fitzg., Gdnrs' Chron. n.s. 17:462 (1882).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Narrow-lipped spider-orchid, narrow-lipped caladenia.

Description:
Slender, hairy, 15-45 cm high; leaf very hairy, narrow-lanceolate, sheathing at the base; lamina 4-14 cm long.

Flowers 1 or 2, prevailing tints yellowish-green and reddish-brown; perianth-segments with a central reddish-brown stripe, spreading (with the exception of the dorsal sepal); sepals clavate, subequal; dorsal sepal incurved, 2.5-3 cm long, tapering from the base to a fine clavate point; lateral sepals dilated in the basal half, thereafter constricted into fine upturned clavate points; petals falcate, lanceolate, gradually tapering into fine non-clavate points, 2-2.5 cm long; labellum oblong or broadly lanceolate, 11-13 mm long (including the claw) and c. 4.5 mm wide, on a distinct movable claw, undivided, a dark reddish-brown, erect in the lower half, thereafter recurved, margin practically entire, tip generally acute, sometimes blunt, lamina almost flat; calli sessile (except near the claw), in 4 rows, rarely extending beyond the bend; column 10-12 mm, retracted at the base, thereafter erect or incurved, widely winged above, more narrowly below; 2 sessile yellow calli at the base; anther with a straight sharp point.

Published illustration: Fitzgerald (1885) Australian orchids, vol. 2, pt 2; Pocock (1972) Ground orchids of Australia, t. 26.

Distribution:  Occurs singly or in small groups in clay or gravelly soils in open to dense forest. Not uncommon in the Adelaide Hills.

  Vic. (very rare).

Conservation status: native

Flowering time: Sept. — Nov.


SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: Most plants in the FR have wholly crimson flowers whereas those in the SL have yellow-green flowers with contrasting crimson labellum.

Author: Not yet available


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