Caladenia splendens

Description

Caladenia splendens is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, 150–300 mm (6–10 in) long and 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) wide. Up to three mostly white flowers 220–280 mm (9–10 in) long and 100–220 mm (4–9 in) wide are borne on a stalk 300–800 mm (10–30 in) tall. The sepals and petals have long, brownish thread-like tips and often have red lines on their backs. The dorsal sepal is erect, 95–165 mm (4–6 in) long and 3–11 mm (0.1–0.4 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 105–180 mm (4–7 in) long and 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide, spread apart and curve downwards. The petals are 85–135 mm (3–5 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide and arranged like the lateral sepals. The labellum is 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) long, 15–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) wide and white to cream-coloured with narrow red teeth up to 14 mm (0.6 in) long on the sides. The tip of the labellum is curled under and there are four rows of white and red calli up to 3 mm (0.1 in) long, along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from September to October.