Winter spider orchid

Description

Caladenia brumalis is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy, lance-shaped leaf, 4–8 cm (2–3 in) long and 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) wide. There is usually only a single white to pinkish flower with darker stripes, on a stem 12–20 cm (5–8 in) high. The flowers are about 7 cm (3 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is lance-shaped near the base and 5–7.5 cm (2–3 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide near the base but narrows to a thread-like tip covered with many black glands. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 5–6.5 cm (2–3 in) long, 3.5–6.5 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide but narrow to a tip similar to that on the dorsal sepal. The petals are similar to the lateral sepals but slightly shorter and narrower. The labellum is whitish or pinkish, sometimes with red markings and is 14–16 mm (0.55–0.63 in) long, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide with erect lateral lobes. There are seven to nine calli about 2 mm (0.08 in) on the sides of the lobes and many short, white-tipped calli along the centre of the labellum. Flowering occurs in August and September.