Scientific Name: Caladenia gracilis
Common Name: musky finger-orchid
Family Classification (Clade): Monocots
Family: Orchidaceae
Form Description: Leaf erect, narrowly linear, moderately hairy. Scape slender and wiry, moderately hairy.
Height (m): 0.12 – 0.25
Flowers: Small cap orchid. Flowers white to pinkish interior, reddish brown to greenish-brown externally, labellum wholly white or cream.
Fruit: Papery capsule
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Heathy open eucalypt forest and woodland.
Site Tolerance
Dry, Exposed, Shady
Soil Tolerance
Loam, Sandy, Well-drained
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
General Notes
Some populations of Caladenia gracilis produce a strong musky scent while others hardly have any. Moderate to high fire frequency.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
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Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Treatment Notes
Orchid seeds are very minute yellow, brown or blackish dust-like particles. Orchid seeds are produced within a capsule that splits at maturity and releases thousands to millions of seeds. Dispersed by wind and water and only germinate following infection of the embryo by a suitable mycorrhizal fungus. Very few seeds become mature plants. For more information see Jones, Wapstra, Tonelli, Harris (1999): The Orchids of Tasmania.