The Spider Orchids are the largest genus of orchids in Western Australia. There are around 180 species in Caladenia with about 140 found in the south west of Western Australia. There is huge variation in size, colour and shape. Size ranges from the tiny Winter Spider Orchid (1-2cm) to the huge Giant Spider Orchid (up to 30cm).
The species on this page are divided into four groups. Within these groups, species are arranged into smaller groups based on flower similarity. Click on the thumbnails to view enter the groups, and then to view the photos.
Group 1 - The Big Spider Orchids
This group contains all the species that have long fringing on the labellum. I have called the group 'Big Spider Orchids' as most of them have large, showy flowers. There are, however, some very small species in this group.
Caladenia longicauda, speciosa, splendens, christineae - White Spider Orchids
Caladenia arenicola, georgii, paludosa, ferruginea
Caladenia serotina - Christmas Spider Orchid
Caladenia falcata, integra, attingens, lobata - Green Spider Orchid Group
Caladenia lorea - Blushing Spider Orchid
Caladenia huegelii, thinicola - Grand and Scott River Spider Orchids
Caladenia excelsa - Giant Spider Orchid
Caladenia gardneri - Cherry Spider Orchid
Caladenia citrina - Margaret River Spider Orchid
Caladenia corynephora - Club-lipped Spider Orchid
Caladenia viridescens - Dunsborough Spider Orchid
Caladenia williamsiae - William's Spider Orchid
Caladenia uliginosa - Darting Spider Orchid
Caladenia radiata - Ray Spider Orchid
Caladenia pectinata, heberleana, procera - King and Heberle's Spider Orchids
Caladenia brownii - Karri Spider Orchid
Caladenia applanata, ambusta - Broad-lipped and Boranup Spider Orchids
Caladenia longiclavata, arrecta, rhomboideformis, ensata - Clubbed Spider Orchids
Caladenia infundibularis, granitora - Funnel Web Spider Orchids
Caladenia harringtoniae - Pink Spider Orchid
Caladenia graniticola, hoffmanii - Pingaring and Hoffman's Spider Orchids
Caladenia graminifolia - Grass-leafed Spider Orchid
Caladenia crebra - Arrowsmith Spider Orchid
Caladenia nivalis - Exotic Spider Orchid
Caladenia pholcoidea - Albany Spider Orchid
Caladenia leucochila - Collie Spider Orchid
Caladenia interjacens - Walpole Spider Orchid
Caladenia startiorum - Start's Spider Orchid
Group 2 - The Wispy Spider Orchids
The characteristic feature of these species are the thin, wispy petals and sepals and a labellum with very short (if any) fringes. Some years ago, the name Caladenia filamentosa was applied to all the wispy spider orchids. As there were many variations, many of which formed stable populations, the species has been divided into many separate species, some of which are very similar in appearance. This makes identification quite difficult. Differences include flower size, flowering time, range of distribution, size of the labellum and colour. However, many species show large variations in colour and size anyway, which further complicates identification. Therefore, there is a good chance that some of the species listed here are not identified correctly. Those I am not totally sure about are marked with an asterisk (*). Most orchid enthusiests will refer to the Wispy Spider Orchids collectively as 'filimentosas'
The larger Wispy Spider Orchids
The smaller Wispy Spider Orchids
Caladenia filifera, footeana, pulchra - Blood, Crimson and Slender Spider Orchid
Caladenia chapmanii - Chapman's Spider Orchid
Caladenia dorrienii, hopperiana - Cossack and Quindanning Spider Orchids
Caladenia bicalliata - Limestone and Sandhill Spider Orchids
Caladenia caesarea - Mustard Orchid
Caladenia radialis - Drooping Spider Orchid
Caladenia sigmoidea - Sigmoid Spider Orchid
Caladenia xantha - Primrose Spider Orchid
Caladenia elegans - Elegant Spider Orchid
Caladenia wanosa - Kalbarri Spider Orchid
Caladenia nobilis - Noble Spider Orchid
Caladenia denticulata - Yellow Spider Orchid
Caladenia luteola - Lemon Spider Orchid
Caladenia sp. - Other Wispy Spider Orchids
Group 3 - The Small Spider Orchids
This group contains several species that all have very small flowers. Most also have no fringes on the labellum.
Caladenia roei, doutchaie, cristata, brevisura - Crested Spider Orchids
Caladenia cairnsiana, pachychila - Zebra Orchids
Caladenia bryceana - Dwarf Spider Orchid
Group 4 - The Other Spider Orchids
This group contains the species that do not easily fit into the other groups.
Caladenia plicata - Crab-lipped Spider Orchid
Caladenia multiclavia - Lazy Spider Orchid
Caladenia macrostylis - Leaping Spider Orchid
Caladenia hirta, rosea - Candy Orchids
Caladenia flava - Cowslip
Caladenia latifolia, reptans, nana - Pink Fairy and Pink Fan Orchids
Caladenia marginata - White Fairy Orchid
Caladenia drummondii - Winter Spider Orchid
Caladenia discoidea - Dancing Spider Orchid
Caladenia barbarossa, mesocera, drakeoides - Dragon Orchids
I was looking at this group:
The group "Group 1 - The Big Spider Orchids"
"Caladenia pectinata, heberleana, brownii, procera - King, Heberle and Karri Spider Orchids"
can not be accessed (not working) - It is a link failure
A greeting
Luis
Group 2 - The Wispy Spider Orchids
http://chookman.id.au/wp_orchids/?page_id=1561
Caladenia chapmanii - Chapman's Spider Orchid
Link error, you can not access
I'm used my visit to these very different orchids growing in Europe. If ever I can go to Australia would come to Perth to observe on the ground.
I hope I have not bothered.
a greeting
Luis
Hi there, i live in Bridgetown and came across a few unusual orchids today.
They look a bit like Caladenias but they are not, the tallest one i saw was around 1 foot in height.
I have lived here all my life 61 years and have walked the bush looking at these wonders but i have never seen this one before.
Can someone contact me about this plant, my brother in law has many photos of it .
Hi Jeffrey, I would love to know where you find the Spider orchids in Bridgetown. I have lived here for about 8 years and about the only orchids I can find around town are the Cowslip's.
Spider orchids can be found in most areas of natural, undisturbed bush. Look for areas with not much grass or weeds. Also check areas of bush near swamps - that is a favourite habitat for orchids. I have not done a lot of searching around Bridgetown so I can't really help much in that area. You could try the swampy areas between Bridgetown and Manjimup on the main highway. The best time would be September to November.
Hi Jeff Baker, I can put you in touch with someone in Bridgetown who is very knowledgeable about Spider Orchids. I have found more this year than previous years, but scattered. A few Spider orchids shown on my Flickr Page, and most of these are from Bridgetown area. https://www.flickr.com/photos/79491964@N05/albums/72157651682653060/with/17020281767/. I hope Chook doesn't mind this link.