Caladenia excelsa (Caladenia excelsa)
Description
Caladenia excelsa is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, 200–350 mm (8–10 in) long and 6–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide. One or two cream-coloured to greenish-cream flowers 150–300 mm (6–10 in) long and 70–150 mm (3–6 in) wide are borne on a stalk 450–900 mm (20–40 in) tall. The sepals and petals have long, brownish, drooping thread-like tips. The dorsal sepal curves backwards behind the flower, 130–200 mm (5–8 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide at the base. The lateral sepals are 130–200 mm (5–8 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide at the base and taper to long, thin tips. The petals are 95–150 mm (4–6 in) long, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide at their bases and taper like the lateral sepals. The labellum is creamy-coloured with a red tip, 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long, 12–17 mm (0.5–0.7 in) wide and has many thin teeth up to 10 mm (0.4 in) long on its sides. There are four rows of maroon or white calli along the centre line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from late September to early November.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Asparagales
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Family: Orchidaceae
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Genus: Caladenia
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