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Cowslip Orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Orchidoideae
Genus:	Caladenia
Species:	C. latifolia
Binomial name
Caladenia latifolia R.Br. (1810)

The Pink Fairy Orchid (Caladenia latifolia) is species of orchid found across southern Australia.

Description

Caladenia latifolia, the 'Pink Fairy Orchid'.

Caladenia latifolia is a tuberous, perennial herb. The species epithet, latifolia, refers to the leaves which are basal, oblong-lanceolate, glabrous and up to 20cm long. The flowers may be solitary or in an inflorescence of a few flowers and appear during August - October. The sepals and lateral petals are pink or occasionally white in colour, the upper surface is hairy and the margins of the lateral petals may be slightly serrated. The labellum is three lobed, 6–7mm long, with two pink striped lobes subtended by a narrowly triangular lobe. The middle lobe is fringed with white calli (glandular hairs).

The species is known to occasionally hybridise with other native orchids, including Caladenia flava and Caladenia gardneri.

Four varieties have been described:

• Caladenia latifolia var. alba Guilf.
• Caladenia latifolia var. angustifolia Benth.
• Caladenia latifolia var. glandula Ewart & B.Wood
• Caladenia latifolia R.Br. var. latifolia

Distribution

It has a wide distribution across the southern coast of Australia, it is known to occur in Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia. The species prefers sandy soils but is known to occur in granite and loam soils and on rocky outcrops.

References

Bibliography

• "Caladenia latifolia [[Robert Brown (botanist)|R.Br.]]". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
• "Caladenia latifolia R.Br". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
• http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Caladenia~latifolia