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 polychroma, known as the Joseph’s Spider Orchids, is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber, that often grows in clumps. They are endemic to the south-west region of Western Australia.
It has a single erect, hairy leaf, 70–120 mm long and about 4 mm wide, with one or two relatively large and colourful, smelly flowers that are borne on a stalk 200–300 mm tall. The flowers are creamy in colour, with variable colour of red, pink, yellow and white. The flowers are approximately 100–150 mm long and 80–120 mm wide.= The flowering period occuring from September to October.
The sepals and petals have long, thin, drooping, thread-like ends, whilst the dorsal sepal is erect, 45–100 mm long and 2–3 mm wide. The lateral sepals are 45–100 mm long and 3–4 mm wide, curving downwards. The petals are 45–90 mm long, 2–3 mm wide and arranged like the lateral sepals. The labellum is 10–17 mm long, 10–13 mm wide and are cream-coloured to yellow with red lines, spots and blotches. The sides of the labellum have short, blunt teeth and the tip is curled under. There are two rows of anvil-shaped, cream-coloured calli along the mid-line of the labellum.
Photographs © Terry Dunham
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Charophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Subclass: Magnoliidae
- Superorder: Lilianae
- Order: Asparagales
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Genus: Caladenia
- Species: Caladenia polychroma
Footnote & References
- Caladenia polychroma (Joseph’s spider Orchid), Stirling Range National Park WA. Photographs © Terry Dunham
- Caladenia polychroma Hopper & A.P.Br., Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/taxon/apni/51399281
- Joseph’s Spider Orchid (Caladenia polychroma), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/416788-Caladenia-polychroma
- Caladenia polychroma Hopper & A.P.Br., Joseph’s Spider Orchid, Western Australian Herbarium (1998–). Florabase—the Western Australian Flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Accessed 1 October 2023), https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/15376
- Caladenia polychroma, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caladenia_polychroma
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