Caladenia iridescens

Bronze Caladenia

Slender erect perennial growing from round tubers, scattered in understorey. Stem green with few purplish hairs. Dies down in hot weather.

Additional information

• SynonymStegostyla iridescens
• FamilyOrchidaceae
• StoreyLower storey
• Size10-25 cm high
• Plant groupingOrchids
• LeavesSingle thin narrow sparsely hairy leaf 5-11 cm x 1-2 mm.
• Flower colourYellow-green to red-purple, green to brown hairs on back, lip white with red bars
• Flowering timeOctober to November
• Flowers1-2 flowers to 20 mm across; narrow, incurved, widely spaced petals & sepals; central sepal hooded. Lip 3-lobed, fringed mid-lobe dark purple with 4 crowded rows of purple warts (calli), tip curved under.
• Bird attractingNo
• Butterfly attractingNo
• Frog habitatNo
• Growing conditionsWell drained soil in shrubby open forest. Full sun, semi shade. Requires fire to flower well.
• Garden useUse of orchids in gardens is not recommended, unless they already occur naturally, in which case they need to be protected. Removing orchids from the bush usually results in their death and further depletes remaining wild orchid populations.
• Commercially availableNever
• Conservation statusScattered individuals in a few areas within the Shire. Uncommon. Victorian endemic.
• Aboriginal Use Food - tuber
• Related speciesCaladenia transitoria is very similar to C. iridescens but is smaller and less robust. The 1-4 flowers are greenish-yellow with the outside covered in dense purple hairs. It occurs in dry open forests.

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