Caladenia actensis D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

 

Caladenia actensis, commonly known as the Canberra spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the Australian Capital Territory. It has a single leaf and usually only one greenish flower with red markings and only occurs in three small populations.

Description

Caladenia actensis is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which grows singly or in small groups. A single leaf, 40–90 mm (2–4 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide appears in late autumn or early winter, after rain. Usually only a single flower is borne on a stalk 80–140 mm (3–6 in) tall. The flower is greenish, heavily marked with reddish-crimson lines and blotches, and is 12–20 mm (0.5–0.8 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is erect, 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide while the lateral sepals are a similar size but are turned downwards, close to the ovary. The petals are 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. The labellum is heart-shaped, 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide and maroon or green with a maroon tip. The labellum curves forward and downwards and there are up to six pairs of short, blunt teeth on its sides. The mid-line of the labellum has four to six rows of crowded dark, purplish-red calli. Flowering occurs from late September to mid- October.

Caladenia actensis - Wikipedia