my-server
← Wiki

Caladenia angustata

Caladenia angustata, commonly known as white caps, is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single, hairy leaf and one or two white to pinkish flowers which are reddish or greenish on their backs.

Description

Caladenia angustata is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which usually grows in loose groups. It has a single narrow lance-shaped, hairy leaf, long, about wide and is reddish-purple near its base. One or two bright white or pinkish flowers long and wide are borne on a stalk tall. The back surface of the sepals and petal is a covered with reddish or greenish-brown glands. The sepal is curved forward forming a hood over the column and is narrow egg-shaped, long and wide. The sepals are curved lance-shaped, long and wide. The petals are a similar shape to the lateral sepals, long and wide. The labellum is long, wide and white with the tip curled under. There are narrow teeth up to long with yellow tips on the sides of the labellum and four rows of white calli with yellow or purplish tips in the centre of the labellum. Flowering occurs from October to November. This orchid is similar to C. gracilis but can be distinguished by its very narrow leaf, different flower colour, smaller, more widely spaced calli and narrower column.

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia angustata was first described in 1810 by John Lindley and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. The specific epithet (angustata) is a Latin word meaning "narrowed".

Distribution and habitat

White caps occurs in northern parts of Tasmania where it grows in forest on low hills with a shrubby understorey.

References