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Range of Caladenia flava
Range of Caladenia flava.

Cowslip Orchid
Caladenia flava R.Br. 1810

Synonyms

Notes

The Cowslip Orchid is one of the most abundant and most easily recognisable orchids of Western Australia. Cowslip Orchids can be found in almost every area of bushland across south-western WA and thrive in a variety of different habitats. They often form extensive clonal colonies which can sometimes be made up of hundreds of individuals. Cowslip Orchids also have a very extended flowering period lasting from early July near Kalbarri until early December in the far south-west of WA.

The Cowslip Orchid is divided into four subspecies:

Cowslip Orchids occasionally form hybrids with other Caladenia species, in particular with the Pink Fairy Orchid (Caladenia flava × Caladenia latifolia) and the Little Pink Fairy Orchid (Caladenia flava × Caladenia reptans). These hybrids are easily recognised by their unique colour which is usually somewhere in between the yellow and pink colours of their parents.

Photos

Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. flava)

Caladenia flava
Caladenia flava subsp. flava. (Lesueur NP, WA, 11 / 09 / 2011)
Caladenia flava
Caladenia flava subsp. flava. (Ardross, WA, 16 / 08 / 2014)
Caladenia flava
Caladenia flava subsp. flava. (West Coolup, WA, 08 / 09 / 2013)
Caladenia flava
The Cowslip Orchid is one of the most common orchids of WA and is often found growing in large colonies. (Mount Horner, WA, 25 / 08 / 2013)
Caladenia flava
Some specimens are entirely yellow without any red markings. (John Forrest NP, WA, 28 / 09 / 2013)
Caladenia flava
Cowslip Orchids often grow in dense clusters. (Flynn, WA, 04 / 10 / 2014)
Caladenia flava
The elongated leaves are covered in fine hairs and are purple underneath. (Wellard, WA, 03 / 09 / 2017)

Kalbarri Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. maculata Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001)

Caladenia flava
Kalbarri Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. maculata). (Yallabatharra, WA, 23 / 08 / 2013)
Caladenia flava
Kalbarri Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. maculata). (Yallabatharra, WA, 07 / 07 / 2015)
Caladenia flava
Kalbarri Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. maculata). (Yallabatharra, WA, 07 / 07 / 2015)
Caladenia flava
Kalbarri Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. maculata). (Yallabatharra, WA, 07 / 07 / 2015)
Caladenia flava
Kalbarri Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. maculata). (Mount Horner, WA, 25 / 08 / 2013)

Brookton Highway Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. ‘late red’)

Caladenia flava
Brookton Highway Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. ‘late red’). (Dryandra Woodland, WA, 20 / 10 / 2012)
Caladenia flava
Brookton Highway Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. ‘late red’). (Hyden, WA, 15 / 10 / 2011)
Caladenia flava
Brookton Highway Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. ‘late red’). (Bannister, WA, 13 / 10 / 2013)
Caladenia flava
Brookton Highway Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. ‘late red’). Note the long leaves. (Dryandra Woodland, WA, 20 / 10 / 2012)
Caladenia flava
A particularly colourful specimen of the Brookton Highway Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. ‘late red’). (Dryandra Woodland, WA, 20 / 10 / 2012)
Caladenia flava
A two-flowered specimen of the Brookton Highway Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. ‘late red’) with extensive white colouration of the petals. (Dryandra Woodland, WA, 20 / 10 / 2012)

Karri Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. sylvestris Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001)

Caladenia flava
Karri Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. sylvestris). (Leeuwin–Naturaliste NP, WA, 14 / 11 / 2009)
Caladenia flava
Karri Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. sylvestris). (Leeuwin–Naturaliste NP, WA, 14 / 11 / 2009)
Caladenia flava
Karri Cowslip Orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. sylvestris). Note the long, slender leaf and very long flower stalk. (Leeuwin–Naturaliste NP, WA, 14 / 11 / 2009)

References