Caladenia pilotensis

D.L.Jones
Orchadian 13: 15 (1999)
Taxonomic status Accepted
Occurrence status Present endemic
Origin Native
Degree of establishment Native
Threat status
FFG: Critically Endangered (CR)

Flowering plant 20–30 cm tall. Leaf 7–13 cm long, 10–15 mm wide. Flowers 1 or 2, strongly citrus-scented; perianth segments 4–8 cm long, white or creamy white, often with strong red lines, with narrow blackish glandular tips; sepals flattened at base, 3–7 mm wide; petals shorter than sepals but otherwise similar. Labellum curved forward with apex recurved and lateral lobes erect, lamina ovate, obscurely 3-lobed, 15–20 mm long and 8–11 mm wide (when flattened), cream or reddish with white or reddish calli; margins of lateral lobes fringed with linear calli to 1.5 mm long, margins of mid-lobe with shorter calli becoming tooth-like near tip; lamina calli in 4 or 6 somewhat crowded rows, extending onto mid-lobe, narrow, foot-shaped, c. 1.5 mm long at base of lamina, decreasing in size towards apex. Flowers Sep.–Oct.

NIS, HNF. Endemic to Victoria where found only on Mt Pilot near Beechworth, in woodland with a sparse understorey among large granite boulders.

Characterized by its long white or creamy white perianth segments with blackish glandular tails.

Created by: Jeff Jeanes, 12 May 2015
Updated by: Jeff Jeanes, 18 Apr. 2016
Caladenia pilotensis (hero image) Spinning
Caladenia pilotensis (distribution map) Spinning