Citation: Tate, Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 9:60 (1887).

Synonymy: C. tessellata sensu J. Weber & R. Bates in J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 402 (1978), non Fitzg. , Arachnorchis cardiochila, Phlebochilus cardiochilus

Common name: Thick-lipped spider-orchid, fleshy-lipped caladenia.

Description:
Stem slender, 10-30 cm high, hairy; leaf linear-lanceolate, hairy, 4-11 cm long.

Flowers 1 or 2 on slender pedicels; perianth segments subequal, yellowish with a brown-red central streak, acuminate with glandular tips, not clavate; dorsal sepal linear-lanceolate, erect, incurved, 15-30 mm long; lateral sepals much wider, spreading, flat, falcate, lanceolate, contracted at the base, dilated in the middle, then rather abruptly acuminate; petals much narrower than the lateral sepals, linear-lanceolate, c. 30 mm long, spreading or depressed; labellum on a narrow movable claw, cordate or broadly ovate, 10-20 mm long and 10-15 mm wide, undivided, margin entire with a conspicuous dark-brown thickening round the apex, rather flat, usually erect at the base, thereafter spreading with a recurved tip; reddish-brown or yellow with dark divergent veins; calli in 2-4 rows, dark, clavate, fleshy, crowded, stalked at the base, sessile and congested towards the tip where one-third of the labellum is naked; sometimes a cluster of slender calli at the base of the lamina; column 10-15 mm high, retracted, then much incurved, widely winged in its upper two-thirds; 2 yellow sessile oval calli at the base.

Published illustration: Woolcock (1984)Australian terrestrial orchids, pl. 23A.

Distribution:  Occurs singly or in small groups in sandy soils in mallee, heathland or Callitris forest in areas receiving 250-500 mm mean annual rainfall. S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   Vic. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Sept. — Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: A putative hybrid with C. dilatata has been reported.

Taxonomic notes: Willis (1962) Handbook to plants in Victoria 2:389 considered C. cardiochila to be synonymous with C. tessellata Fitzg., from N.S.W. and Vic. but Clements (1982) Preliminary checklist of Australian Orchidaceae, p. 27 believes the 2 are distinct species.

Author: Not yet available