Tawny spider orchid

Caladenia fulva is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with a small, spherical underground tuber. It has a single green, red-blotched, sparsely hairy leaf, 50–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. One or two, creamy-white to pale yellow flowers 40–80 mm (2–3 in) across are borne on a dark coloured, hairy spike 120–250 mm (5–10 in) tall. The sepals and petals taper to thin, blackish, thread-like tips and sometimes have red stripes. The dorsal sepal is erect, 60–80 mm (2–3 in) long, about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and the lateral sepals are about the same length but wider and spread widely with drooping tips. The petals are 50–60 mm (2.0–2.4 in) long, about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide at the base and arranged similarly to the lateral sepals. The labellum is narrow triangular to egg-shaped, 15–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long, 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide with its edges turned up and its tip rolled under. It is tawny to deep red with many pale red teeth up to 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long on its sides, decreasing in size towards its tip. There are four or six rows of foot-shaped, reddish calli along the centre line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from September to October.

The tawny spider orchid is only known from woodland near Stawell where it grows in well-drained soil.