Caladenia drakeoides

Description

Caladenia drakeoides is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which grows as solitary plants or in clumps of up to ten plants. It has a single, pale green, broad, ground-hugging, hairy leaf, 3–6 cm (1–2 in) long and 4–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide. Usually only one greenish-yellow and red flower is borne on a stalk 18–30 cm (7–10 in) tall. The flowers are 2–3 cm (0.8–1 in) long and about 2 cm (0.8 in) wide and bear a strinking resemblance to those in the genus Drakaea. The dorsal sepal is curved backwards, almost horizontally behind the flower and is 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 1–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide at the base. The lateral sepals and petals are linear to lance-shaped, hang vertically and clasp the ovary. The lateral sepals are 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide with a sudden bend one-third the distance from their outer ends. The petals are 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 1–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide at the base. The labellum is greenish-yellow and red and covered with dark maroon hairs and calli. It is loosely-hinged and resembles an insect abdomen 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and a yellow to red head about 2 mm (0.08 in) in diameter. The false abdomen is strongly turned in towards the ovary. Flowering occurs from August to early October.