Stirling Range National Park Native OrchidsCaladenia barbarossa (Dragon Orchid) Cryptostylis ovata (Slipper Orchid) Caladenia polychroma (Joseph’s Spider Orchid) Caladenia pulchra (Slender Spider Orchid) Drakaea glyptodon (King-in-his-carriage Orchid) Elythranthera emarginata (Pink Enamel Orchids) Leptoceras menziesii (Rabbit Orchid) Praecoxanthus aphyllus (Leafless Orchid) Thelymitra speciosa (Eastern Queen of Sheba’s)
— see Orchidaceae (Orchids)
Caladenia barbarossa, commonly known as the Dragon Orchid or Common Dragon Orchid, is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The Dragon Orchids pictured here are from Stirling Range National Park.
This orchid species is distinguished by its distinctive labellum, that attracts species of the male thynnid wasps. It is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single hairy leaf.
Photographs © Terry Dunham
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Charophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Subclass: Magnoliidae
- Superorder: Lilianae
- Order: Asparagales
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Genus: Caladenia
- Species: Caladenia barbarossa
Footnote & References
- Caladenia barbarossa (Dragon Orchid), Great Southern Region WA. Photographs © Terry Dunham
- Caladenia barbarossa Rchb.f., Common Dragon Orchid, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/taxon/apni/51398823
- Dragon Orchid (Caladenia barbarossa), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/784941-Caladenia-barbarossa
- Caladenia barbarossa, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caladenia_barbarossa
- Caladenia barbarossa Rchb.f., Common Dragon Orchid, Western Australian Herbarium (1998–). Florabase—the Western Australian Flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Accessed 9 October 2023), https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1577
- Caladenia barbarossa, mesocera, drakeoides, barbarella – Dragon Orchids, Orchids of South-West Australia, https://chookman.id.au/wp_orchids/?page_id=2625
Stirling Range National Park Native OrchidsCaladenia barbarossa (Dragon Orchid) Cryptostylis ovata (Slipper Orchid) Caladenia polychroma (Joseph’s Spider Orchid) Caladenia pulchra (Slender Spider Orchid) Drakaea glyptodon (King-in-his-carriage Orchid) Elythranthera emarginata (Pink Enamel Orchids) Leptoceras menziesii (Rabbit Orchid) Praecoxanthus aphyllus (Leafless Orchid) Thelymitra speciosa (Eastern Queen of Sheba’s)
Stirling Range National Park FloraAnigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw) Banksia aculeata (Prickly Banksia) Banksia oreophila (Mountain Banksia) Banksia sphaerocarpa var sphaerocarpa (Fox Banksia) Darwinia wittwerorum (Wittwer’s Mountain Bell) Daviesia oppositifolia (Rattle-pea) Eucalyptus preissiana (Bell-fruited Mallee) Eucalyptus macrandra (Long-flowered Marlock) Eucalyptus uncinata (Hook-leaved Mallee) Hakea lehmanniana (Blue Hakea) Native Orchids
Stirling Range National ParkFauna Flora Landscape
Western AustraliaThe Batavia Coast and Midwest WA Bungle Bungles – Purnululu National Park Great Southern WA Stirling Range National Park