Caladenia caesarea subsp. maritima, commonly known as the cape spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single spreading, hairy leaf and up to three small mustard-coloured flowers with red stripes. It is only known from a small coastal area near Cape Leeuwin where it grows in clumps of ten or more.
Description
Caladenia caesarea subsp. maritima is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb which often occurs in clumps of ten or more. It has an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. There are up to three flowers borne on a stem 15–20 cm (6–8 in) high and each flower is 4–5 cm (1.6–2.0 in) long and 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in) wide. The lateral sepals and petals are spread widely. The labellum is mustard-yellow with brownish-red stripes, projects prominently, has an irregularly serrated edge and two rows of shiny yellow calli along its centre. Flowering occurs from August to mid-September and is followed by a non-fleshy, dehiscentcapsule containing a large number of seeds.[2][3][4]
^ abcBrown, Andrew; Dixon, Kingsley; French, Christopher; Brockman, Garry (2013). Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia. Simon Nevill Publications. p. 54. ISBN9780980348149.
^ abHoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 76. ISBN9780646562322.
^"Caladenia". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
^Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 76. ISBN0646402439.