Caladenia praecox, commonly known as early caladenia or early caps is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and up to four white flowers which are often tinged with green or pink.
Caladenia praecox is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single leaf, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. Up to four white flowers which are often tinged with green or pink, are borne on a spike NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The backs of the sepals and petals have dark red glandular hairs. The dorsal sepal is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and curves forward, forming a hood over the column. The lateral sepals are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and spread apart. The petals are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, about 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and spread widely. The labellum is white, often with red marks and is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. The sides of the labellum turn upwards and have stalked teeth and the tip is curled under. There are four or six rows of crowded calli in the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from August and October.[1] [2] [3]
Caladenia praecox was first formally described in 1926 by William Nicholls and the description was published in The Victorian Naturalist.[4] [5] The specific epithet (praecox) is a Latin word meaning "too early ripe" or "precocious".[6] Although recognised by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne as a valid name, C. praecox is regarded as a synonym of Caladenia dimorpha by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Caladenia praecox is widespread in Victoria especially in the Victorian goldfields and is often recorded from areas to the north-east of Melbourne, growing in open forest and woodland. In also occurs in the south-east of New South Wales.[7]
Caladenia praecox is not listed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.