Stegostyla moschata

Also Caladenia moschata

. . .

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:

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

Species:

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

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