Green comb spider orchid

Description

Caladenia macroclavia is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single, lance-shaped, dull green hairy leaf, 80–140 mm (3–6 in) long and 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide with irregular reddish-purple blotches. Usually only a single green to yellowish-green flower with dark red, central stripes is borne on a thin, wiry, hairy spike 150–280 mm (6–10 in) tall. The sepals have dark brown, rather flat, bayonet-shaped, club-like glandular tips 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long. The dorsal sepal curves forward and is 45–60 mm (1.8–2.4 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. The lateral sepals are a similar length to the dorsal sepal but slightly wider, curve downwards and are nearly parallel to each other. The petals are 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide curve downwards. The labellum has an elongated heart-shape, about 18–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long and 14–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in) wide and is green or yellowish green with a dark red tip. The tip of the labellum curls under and there are between six and seven thin green teeth up to 5 mm (0.2 in) long on each side of the labellum. There are four crowded rows of calli up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from August to October.