Caladenia applanata subsp. erubescens
Caladenia applanata" subsp. "erubescens, commonly known as the rose spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a relatively common orchid with a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three uniformly pink, sweet-smelling flowers which have a broad, flattened labellum. Description. "Caladenia applanata" subsp. "erubescens" is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single, broad, hairy leaf, long and wide. Up to three pink, sweetish-smelling flowers long and wide are borne on a stalk tall. The sepals have narrow, light  brown, club-like glandular tips. The dorsal sepal is erect and the lateral sepals and petals spread stiffly near their bases, then turn downwards. The labellum is pink, long, wide, the sides have many spreading teeth up to long and there are four or more rows of crowded, deep red calli along its centre. Flowering occurs from September to late October. This subspecies differs from subspecies "applanata" in having pink flowers. Taxonomy and naming. "Caladenia erubescens" was first formally described in 2001 by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown. Hopper and Brown described two subspecies including "Caladenia applanata" subsp. "erubescens  and the description was published in Nuytsia". The subspecies name ("erubescens") is a Latin word meaning "growing red", "redden" or "blush", referring to the pink colour of the flowers of this orchid. Distribution and habitat. The rose spider orchid grows in low heath in coastal areas between William Bay and Albany in the Warren biogeographic region. Conservation. "Caladenia applanata" subsp. "erubescens" is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.