Caladenia dimorpha, commonly known as spicy caps,[1] is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is an uncommon ground orchid with a single sparsely hairy leaf, and up to three white flowers which often have pinkish markings.
Caladenia dimorpha is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single, sparsely hairy leaf up to 18sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and 5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. Up to three white flowers are borne on a sparsely hairy spike up to 30sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 high and often have pink or purplish markings. The dorsal sepal is about 15sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and curves forward, forming a hood over the column. The lateral sepals and petals are up to 20sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, with the back surfaces greenish and covered with scattered glandular hairs. The front of the petals and sepals is glabrous. The labellum is broadly egg-shaped, about 8sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and mostly white, sometimes with a dark red or purplish tip. The sides of the labellum have thin, finger-like teeth along most of their length. There are four rows of club-shaped, white to yellow calli along the mid-line of the labellum, becoming clumped and purple near its tip. The column has broad wings and red stripes. Flowering occurs from September to October.[2]
Caladenia dimorpha was first formally described by Robert D. FitzGerald in 1875 and the description was published in Australian Orchids. The type specimen was collected near Bowenfels.[3] The specific epithet (dimorpha) is derived from the Ancient Greek words di meaning "two"[4] and morphe meaning "form" or "shape".
This uncommon caladenia grows in forest in the western part of the Blue Mountains almost to the Victorian border.