!Praecoxanthus aphyllus (Benth.) S.D.Hopper & A.P.Brown 2000

Another View Photo by Ron Heberle and the Thelymitra Page of The Species Orchid Society of Western Australia

Common Name The Leafless Praecoxanthus - The Rainbow Orchid - The Leafless Orcid

Flower Size 1 to 1.4" [2.5 to 3.5 cm]

Found in Western Australia in coastal plains in low scrub, heath and forests at elevations of sea level to 350 meters as a small to medium sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial with 2 disimilar forms, the non flowering form has a single, hairless, dark green and white above, red beneath elliptic, obtuse leaf. The flowering form has no leaf, but a single small basal bract and an erect, wiry, hairless, 8 to 18" [20 to 45 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence with a very fragrant flower occuring in the fall

Synonyms *Caladenia aphylla Benth. 1873;

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Australia Nicholls 1969 as Caladenia aphylla drawing fide; *Lindleyana Vol 15 No 2 2000; Rudolf Schlechter Die Orchideen Band 1C lieferung 41 pg 2565 - 2625 Brieger 2001 drawing fide; Genera Orchidacearum Vol 2 Part One Pridgeon, Cribb, Chase and Rasmussen 2001 drawing fide; Native Orchids of Australia Jones 2006 photo fide

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