Australia So Much to See
Caladenia uliginosa subsp. uliginosa, Darting Spider Orchid
A medium sized spider orchid, which stands around thirty centimetres
high. Greenish cream petals, and a labellum with a wide dark red tip. It is not found in large numbers.
This orchid readily
hybridises with white spider orchids, such as Caladenia longicauda, producing a principally white orchid with a red tipped labellum,
which are seen more readily than Caladenia uliginosa subsp. uliginosa itself. See hybrids.
Favouring edges of winter-wet
clay flats, the name uliginosa mean Swampy.
October
Bridgetown, South West region, Western Australia, and is found between Perth and
Albany in the south western part of the Wheatbelt and Great Southern, extending into the South West region.
Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans, Dwarf Pink Fairy orchid, Little Pink Fairy orchid
Pink to bright pink or mauve with shade variations,
five petals, with a maroon to dark red tip to the labellum which has a slight point at centre top. Inner side of wings on labellum
have fine maroon lines. Some are found in a lilac shade and these have a purple labellum tip. Can be found in pure
white. One or two flowers per stem and often grows in clusters. Underside of leaves are a shiny dark red (at right).
Flowers vary between one centimetre tall to five centimetres tall. Usually close to ground with stems varying from two to ten
centimetres, but I have seen one at 24 centimetres.
Differs from Caladenia latifolia which often has flowers a softer pink
colour than the typical bright pink of Caladenia reptans. Coloured labellum tip is usually V shaped at the top and petals longer
and thinner. Inner side of wings at top of column usually dark. Back of foliage is green, with leaf wider and more oval
shaped than Caladenia reptans.
Spring
Bridgetown, South West Region, Western Australia and occurs in the Coastal Wheatbelt, Perth,
South West and Great Southern Regions
The subspecies Caladenia reptans subsp. impensa is found north of Geraldton, mostly around Kalbarri.
Caladenia roei, is also known as the Common Clown Orchid, Clown Orchid, Ant Orchid, Man Orchid and Jack-in-the-Box.
This and
similar small orchids have lower petals like legs in striped pantaloons, and clubbed tips like feet. The labellum is wide and likened
to a clown’s collar. The upper petals are small and curved, like arms. The column completes the figure as the head. Stem is
relatively short and hairy, with leaf almost as long with has short hairs, particularly on the edges and rear.
August
Caledonia straminichila, (formerly Caladenia sp. Moodiarrup and Caladenia sp. Boyup Brook, 2015), Tenterden Spider Orchid, Tenterden
Yellow Spider Orchid.
A small wispy cream to yellow orchid, with red petal extensions, and red stripes on rear of petals. A
fine red stripe centrally down the petals may be fund in some specimens. Petals have a striped appearance with three self coloured
stripes down them. Wide based labellum has short fringes on margins, red markings and lumpy translucent calli. Leaf is
slender and hairy.
September
Boyup Brook (Mayanup) in the South West Region, Western Australia and occurs in the inland South West,
and into adjacent areas of the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions.
Caladenia serotina, Christmas Spider Orchid
A small white or cream Spider orchid, which sometimes has red streaks down the petals.
The long labellum curls well under itself and has dark red calli, and long dark red fringes to face outwards, and may have white tips.
Leaf is light green and hairy, and is behind vegetation in the photograph here.
November December
Seen in the southern part of
the Bridgetown-Greenbushes shire and at Northcliffe in the Manjimup shire. Found in winter wet swamps and winter wet areas between
Perth and Albany, and west of this through the South West and Lover Great Southern regions.