The White Spider Orchid Group | Orchids of South-west Australia

This group contains about 16 species, most of which are sub species of the White Spider Orchid, C. longicauda. All of them have predominantly white flowers with red tinged labellum fringes and no red tip to the labellum. The White Spider group itself contains about twelve subspecies. They are generally very similar with subtle differences ranging from differences in the size of the flowers, size and shape of the labellum and the distribution. As a group, they are very common across the south west. On this page I have included the White Spider Orchids themselves, plus other species which are not subspecies of White Spider Orchid, but have similar looking flowers.

Many of the different subspecies of White Spider Orchids are very difficult to identify. Most of the photographs on this page are labelled as C. longicauda subsp. eminens as this subspecies has the largest distribution and is somewhat easier to identify by its large, broad labellum and glistening white colour. There is a saying among orchid enthusiests, "If you don't know what to call it, call it eminens! Species marked with an asterisk (*) are ones in which the identification is uncertain.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. longicauda - White Spider Orchid

The White Spider Orchid, Caladenia longicauda subsp. longicauda can be considered the 'normal' white spider orchid. It is distinguished by its long drooping petals and sepals and large, narrow labellum with long fringes. It is found mainly on the coastal plain and Darling scarp from the Perth area to Albany.

Caladenia longicauda - White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. longicauda - White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. calcigena - Coastal White Spider Orchid

The Coastal White Spider Orchid is identified by its sandy coastal habitat, smaller flowers and its calli, which tend to merge at the tip of the labellum, rather than remain in neat rows. It is found between Dongara and Bunbury. In the Perth area, it is found in remnant bushland and is noticeably smaller than the nearby occurring White Spider Orchid, C. longicauda subsp. longicauda.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. calcigena - Coastal White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. calcigena - Coastal Spider Orchid

Caladenia calcigena - Coastal White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. calcigena - Coastal White Spider Orchid

Caladenia latifolia x Caladenia longicauda subsp. calcigena - Coastal Fairy

This orchid is a cross between the Pink Fairy and the Coastal White Spider Orchid. It is not a common hybrid, despite the parent species being present in good numbers.

Caladenia latifolia x longicauda subsp. eminens - Coastal Fairy

Caladenia longicauda subsp. redacta - Tangled Spider Orchid

The Tangled Spider Orchid is distinguished by the small labellum with significantly shorter fringes. It is found in winter wet areas along the western edge of the Wheatbelt from Collie to Mt Barker. I'm not sure why it is called the Tangled Spider Orchid as I have not noticed it to be more tangled than any other of the white spider orchids.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. redacta - Tangled White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. redacta - Tangled Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens - Stark White Spider Orchid

The Stark White Spider Orchid is distinguished by its brilliant white flowers and large labellum. It is the most common of the White Spider Orchid group and is found between Moora and Albany from the western edge to the central Wheatbelt. Its favoured habitat is in Wandoo woodland, particularly around winter wet areas. In good seasons it can be found in huge numbers. It often hybridises with the Green Spider Orchid, the Darting Spider Orchid, the Pink Candy Orchid and the Dragon Orchid.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens - Stark White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp, eminens

Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens

Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens - Stark White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens

Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens - Stark White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens

Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens - Stark White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. enimens - Stark White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens - Stark White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. borealis - Daddy-long-legs Spider Orchid

This orchid is similar to the normal White Spider Orchid and is distinguished by the very long, drooping petals and sepals and the small labellum with very long fringes. It is the most common white spider orchid found in the north, between Cataby and Kalbarri. It flowers earlier than other white spiders orchids, starting as early as late July.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. borealis - Daddy-long-legs Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. minima - Chapman Valley Spider Orchid

The Chapman Valley Spider Orchid is a local variation of the White Spider Orchid. It is distinguished by having small flowers with stiffly held petals with long, ragged fringing. It is found in a small area east of Geraldton (around the Chapman Valley - hence the name).

Caladenia longicauda subsp. minima - Chapman Valley Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. crassa - Esperance White Spider Orchid

This orchid is similar to the Stark White Spider Orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens) and differs in having smaller flowers with a broad labellum with short fringes and broad petals and sepals. The flowers are white in colour, but lack the brilliant white colouration of the Stark White Spider Orchid and can be yellowish in colour.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. crassa - Esperance White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. merrittii - Merritt's White Spider Orchid

The distinguishing feature of this orchid is the very long petals and sepals. Flowers can reach 25cm in length from the tip of the dorsal sepal to the tips of the petals. The dorsal sepal often droops backwards due to its great length. The orchid is found between Augusta and Nannup.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. merrettii - Merritt's White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. extrema - Seaton Ross Spider Orchid

This recently named subspecies of White Spider Orchid is very similar to the Tangled White Spider Orchid (C. longicauda subsp. redacta) and shares features such as a small, narrow labellum with short labellum fringes. The main difference is the flowering period, which is several weeks later, peaking in late October. The Seaton Ross Spider Orchid is found in swampy habitat near Manjiumup.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. extrema - Seaton Ross Spider Orchid

Caladenia christineae - Christine's Spider Orchid

This orchid is not a subspecies of white spider orchid but it is included on this page as it looks like a mini white spider orchid. The flowers are about half the size of a white spider orchid with a small labellum and short labellum fringes. The plants are often quite tall, reaching 40cm or more. The labellum often has a slight pinkish colour. It is not overly common, being found between Manjimup and Mt Barker growing around the margins of winter wet areas.

Caladenia christineae - Christine's Spider Orchid

Caladenia speciosa - Sandplain White Spider Orchid

This orchid is not a subspecies of white spider orchid but is included here as it is very similar in appearance. The main distinguishing feature of this orchid is the large labellum with long, ragged fringes that often have split ends - a feature not shared with any other white spider orchid. The labellum often has a pinkish colouration. It is found mainly between Mandurah and Busselton and is the most common white spider orchid in that area.

Caladenia speciosa - Sandplain Spider Orchid

Caladenia splendens - Splendid White Spider Orchid
Caladenia swartsiorum - Island Point Spider Orchid

The Splendid Spider Orchid is basically a very large White Spider Orchid. it is identified by the very long petals and sepals which can reach nearly 30cm from the tip of the dorsal sepal to the tip of the drooping petals. When this species is found in the same area as other types of white spider orchids, the much larger size of this species is much more apparent.
The Island Point Spider Orchid is identified by the greenish-yellow petals and sepals. It is an uncommon species found in coastal areas between Mandurah and Bunbury.

Caladenia splendens - Splendid Spider Orchid

Caladenia swartsiorum - Island Point Spider Orchid

Caladenia x enigma - Enigmatic Spider Orchid

This orchid is a hybrid between the Dragon Orchid, Caladenia barbarossa and one of the White Spider Orchids, Caladenia longicauda. It is relatively common where the two species are found together.

Caladenia x enigma - White Dragon

Caladenia x enigma - Enigmatic Spider Orchid

Caladenia x enigma - Enigmatic Orchid

Caladenia x triangularis - Shy Spider Orchid

This orchid is a hybrid between the White Spider Orchid (Caladenia longicauda) and the Cowslip (Caladenia flava). Despite the two parent species frequently growing together, this hybrid is rarely seen.

Caladenia x triangularix - Shy Spider Orchid

Caladenia x triangularis - Shy Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda x unknown - Unknown Hybrid White Spider Orchid

This orchid is a hybrid between one of the white spider orchids and another spider orchid. Not sure which one. Could possibly be the Clubbed Spider Orchid or the King Spider Orchid. However, hybrids with those species almost always have a red-tipped labellum, which this hybrid does not have.