Tuart Spider Orchid
Caladenia georgei
Synonyms
- Arachnorchis georgei
- Calonemorchis georgei
Notes
The Tuart Spider Orchid is restricted to the coastal plain from just north of Perth to near Busselton in Western Australia, where the orchids grow in sandy soils in woodland and coastal heath. The main flowering period is September to October. It is one of the largest and most spectacular Spider Orchids of Australia, with long, variably coloured petals and sepals and a large, broad, maroon-tipped labellum with long fringe segments that are sometimes split near the end.
The Tuart Spider Orchid looks very similar to the Carousel Spider Orchid (Caladenia arenicola), and both species have a similar geographic range. Hybrids between the two species are common, making identification even more difficult, in particular in the Perth metropolitan area. The situation becomes less confusing further south in the region around Bunbury and Busselton, where the Carousel Spider Orchid does not occur.
The Tuart Spider Orchid can be distinguished from the Carousel Spider Orchid by its usually larger, broader labellum with long, rugged fringe segments and the fact that the petals are usually pointed rather than clubbed and stiffly held rather than pendulous. Both species come in a wide range of different colours, so colour alone cannot be used for identification.
Photos
References
- Caladenia georgei in the Atlas of Living Australia
- Caladenia georgei in the Western Australian FloraBase