Stegostyla moschata

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms > Monocots >  Orchidaceae > Stegostyla moschata

Other links:     

Plant  information

Common name:               Musky Cap  

• Also musky caladenia

Conservation status:   unknown

Etymology:   

• The specific epithet (moschata) is a Latin word meaning "perfumed with musk"

Flowers:                  

• Up to five musky or soapy-scented flowers are borne on a spike 150–300 mm tall

• The sepals and petals are white on the front, sometimes tinged with pink or bronze colours and their backs have greenish-brown or purplish glandular hairs

• The sepals and petals spread horizontally or slightly downwards

• The dorsal sepal is erect, linear in shape, 11–13 mm long, 3 mm wide and curves forward, forming a hood over the column and around its sides

• The lateral sepals are 14–16 mm long, about 3 mm wide and the petals are 12–14 mm long and 3 mm wide. The labellum is 7.5–9 mm long and 6–7 mm wide and white with red or purplish spots

• The sides of the labellum are slightly wavy near its base and have teeth nearer the tip which is strongly curled under and pink

• There are four rows of calli along the centre of the labellum

• The column has broad, rounded wings and reddish blotches

• Flowering is in October and November 

Fruit:                         

• Flowering is is followed by oval-shaped, greenish or reddish capsules 10–14 mm long and 3–4 mm wide

Leaves:         

Stem & branches: 

Roots:         

Habit:        

• It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and up to five flowers which are dark-coloured on the back and white on the front, sometimes tinged with pink and with a strong musky or soapy odour

• It is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which grows singly or in small groups. It has a single, slightly hairy leaf 90–180 mm long and 3–5 mm wide

Habitat:   

• It grows in open forest, on dry ridges and slopes

Distribution:                  

• It is endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania

•  In NSW it is found south from the New England region

• It is widespread in Victoria and Tasmania

• In South Australia it occurs in the south east corner near Millicent, Glencoe and Wrattonbully

Additional notes:     

• The species was previously known as Caladenia gracilis

• Taxonomy 

  • It was first formally in 2008 by David Jones 

  • The description was published in The Orchadian

Sources of information:

• (2023)