Caladenia hildae

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Golden caps
Caladenia hildae.jpg
Caladenia hildae growing in the Monaro
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. hildae
Binomial name
Caladenia hildae
Synonyms [1]
  • Caladenia testacea var. hildae(Pescott & Nicholls) Nicholls
  • Stegostyla hildae(Pescott & Nicholls) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Caladenia testaceaauct. non R.Br.: Willis, J.H. (1970)

Caladenia hildae, commonly known as golden caps, [2] or honey caladenia [3] is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-east of mainland Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and up to four yellowish-brown to golden-brown flowers with darker tips on the sepals and petals.

Contents

Description

Caladenia hildae is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single, sparsely hairy, linear leaf, 70–200 mm (3–8 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide. There are up to four flowers on a spike 80–200 mm (3–8 in) tall. The flowers are yellowish-brown to golden-brown flowers with darker tips. The sepals and petals have pointed, drooping tips. The dorsal sepal is erect, 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and curves forward forming a hood over and around the sides of the column. The lateral sepals and petals are 11–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The labellum is egg-shaped, 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide with the sides turned up and the tip rolled under. The labellum is white with a dark purple, glandular tip, narrow white or yellow-tipped teeth on the sides and four crowded rows of calli along its mid-line. Flowering occurs in October and November. [3] [2] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia hildae was first formally described in 1928 by Edward Pescott and William Nicholls and the description was published in The Victorian Naturalist. [5] [6] The specific epithet (hildae) honours Hilda Elliott for her assistance in obtaining grant money. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Golden caps grows in sparse or heathy forest and woodland in high-altitude areas in New South Wales south from the Kybean Range and in Victoria mainly eastwards from Omeo. [3] [2] [4]

Conservation

Caladenia hildae is listed as "endangered" under the Victorian Government Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 . [3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Caladenia hildae". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 47. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jeanes, Jeffrey. "Caladenia hildae". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: Vicflora. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  4. 1 2 Bernhardt, Peter. "Caladenia hildae". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  5. ↑ "Caladenia hildae". APNI. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  6. 1 2 Pescott, Edward Edgar; Nicholls, William Henry (1929). "A new species of orchid". The Victorian Naturalist. 45 (9): 235–237. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
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