Brookton Highway Spider Orchid
Caladenia fluvialis
Notes
This only recently described species of Spider Orchid is known from a small area in the south-western Wheatbelt region of WA, where the orchids are found growing in loamy soils in winter-wet flats and along seasonal creeks. The peak flowering period is late winter to early spring. While locally common, the Brookton Highway Spider Orchid is easily overlooked due to its small size. Flowering plants are usually only 10–20 cm tall, although they can sometimes form spectacular clumps which are much easier to spot than individual plants.
The Brookton Highway Spider Orchid looks very similar to several other white Wispy Spider Orchids found in south-western WA. It can be distinguished, however, by its small size, late-winter flowering period, narrow, spreading, stiffly held petals and sepals, and winter-wet habitat.
Photos
References
- Brown, A. P. & Brockman, G., 2015, Nuytsia, 25, 45
- Caladenia fluvialis in the Atlas of Living Australia
- Caladenia fluvialis in the Western Australian FloraBase