Lake muir blood orchid

Description

Caladenia erythrochila is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which has a single erect, hairy leaf, 70–90 mm (3–4 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. One or two blood red flowers 60–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 50–60 mm (2.0–2.4 in) wide are borne on a stalk 200–250 mm (8–10 in) high. The sepals and petals are blood red and nearly horizontal near their base but taper to thin, wispy, drooping tips. The dorsal sepal is erect, 35–40 mm (1–2 in) long and about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide at the base. The lateral sepals are 45–50 mm (1.8–2.0 in) long, about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide near their bases and the petals are 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) long, about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide at their bases. The labellum is 5.5–6 mm (0.22–0.24 in) long and 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.12 in) wide and blood red, often with white marks. The edges of the labellum have short, forward-pointing teeth and there are two rows of red to cream, anvil-shaped calli along its centre. Flowering occurs from September to early October.