Caladenia

The genus Caladenia belongs to the subfamily Orchidoideae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The abbreviation Calda. is often used in trade journals to indicate the genus.

The subtribe Caladeniinae is considered polyphyletic, due to the alliance of Lyperanthus with the genera of Drakaeinae and Thelymitrinae.

Description

The scientific name is derived from the Greek words calos (meaning beautiful) and aden (meaning glands), referring to the colourful labellum and the glistening glands at the base of the column that adorn many of the species.

The genus was described by Robert Brown in 1810 from specimens that he sighted in most Australian states, as a member of Matthew Flinders' mapping and exploration voyage that circumnavigated Australia. Brown, with assistants, spent just over three years in Australia on botanical research.

The species are small to medium-sized terrestrial orchids. A single, hairy, lanceolate to oblong, basal leaf arises through sympodial growth from underground tubers. The inflorescence is a panicle or raceme with 1 to 8 flowers, showing a fringed or dentate margin. These species have a complex interaction with pollinators, resulting in pseudocopulation.

They are mostly Australian and are from its southern areas. There are four species in New Zealand and another extends to New Caledonia, Indonesia and Malaysia. The south west corner of Western Australia contains the most spectacular and numerous species, varieties and natural hybrids. The huge variation of form and colour of the species leads to a bewildering array and abundance of hybrids. Many are morphologically difficult to separate with some defying separation at present.

Recent taxonomy revisions have, apparently, largely increased the number of species to more than 300 and split the genus into separate groups. For example, Caladenia filamentosa has been split into about 40 different species and subspecies, while a number of subspecies have been upgraded to the status of species (such as Caladenia fragrantissima subsp. orientalis to Caladenia orientalis). This further complicates the issues of identification. For example, Caladena ericksonea is, a naturally occurring hybrid of Caladena doutchiae and the red Caladena filamentosa and also of the hybrid of Caladena cairnsiana and the red Caladena filamentosa.

Whilst colour is an unreliable guide to identification with hybrids, it comes through strongly from one parent or the other for most hybrids whatever the parent species

Caladenia have generally proven difficult to maintain and cultivate artificially with those removed from their habitat rarely surviving more than a few years. The clumping of many of the species could be a result of tuber division or it could be because the seeds fall at the base of their parents and grow there.

The galleries demonstrate the huge variation within colonies and phytogeographic variation over the range north to south and east to west with ever changing climatic and habitat situations over the 150,000 km² of the south west of Western Australia.

Synonyms

Arachnorchis D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem, Caladeniastrum (Szlach.) Szlach., Calonemorchis Szlach., Drakonorchis (Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., Glycorchis D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., Jonesiopsis Szlach., Leptoceras (R.Br.) Lindl., Petalochilus R.S.Rogers, Phlebochilus (Benth.) Szlach. and Stegostyla D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem..

Species

There 243 species (as of 2005) and six subgenera.

''Caladenia abbreviata'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia actensis'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. 1999
''Caladenia aestiva'' D.L.Jones 1991
''Caladenia alata'' R.Br. 1810
''Caladenia amnicola'' D.L.Jones 1997
''Caladenia amoena'' D.L.Jones 1994
''Caladenia anthracina'' D.L.Jones 1998
''Caladenia applanata'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001 - Flat ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia applanata applanata
''Caladenia applanata erubescens'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia arenaria'' Fitzg. 1882
''Caladenia arenicola'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia argocalla'' D.L.Jones, 1991
''Caladenia arrecta'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia atkinsonii'' Rodway 1923
''Caladenia atradenia'' D.L.Jones, Molloy & M.A.Clem. 1997
''Caladenia atrata'' D.L.Jones 1994
''Caladenia atrochila'' D.L.Jones 1998
''Caladenia atroclavia'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. 1988
''Caladenia attenuata'' (Brinsley) D.L.Jones 2000
''Caladenia attingens'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia attingens attingens''
''Caladenia attingens gracillima'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia audasii'' R.S.Rogers 1927
''Caladenia aurantiaca'' (R.S.Rogers) Rupp 1947
''Caladenia australis'' G.W.Carr 1991
''Caladenia barbarella'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia barbarossa'' Rchb.f. 1871 - Bearded ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia barbata'' Lindl. 1840
''Caladenia bartlettii'' (Hatch) D.L.Jones 1997
''Caladenia behrii'' Schltdl. 1847
''Caladenia bicalliata'' R.S.Rogers 1909
''Caladenia bicalliata bicalliata''
''Caladenia bicalliata cleistogama'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia brachyscapa'' G.W.Carr 1988
''Caladenia brevisura'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia brownii'' Hopper 2001 - Brown's Caladenia
''Caladenia brumalis'' D.L.Jones 1991
''Caladenia bryceana'' R.S.Rogers 1914 - Bryce's Caladenia
''Caladenia bryceana'' subsp. ''bryceana''
''Caladenia bryceana'' subsp. ''cracens'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia busselliana'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia caesarea'' (Domin) M.A.Clem. & Hopper, 1989
''Caladenia caesarea caesarea''
''Caladenia caesarea maritima'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia caesarea'' subsp. ''transiens'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia cairnsiana'' F.Muell. 1870 - Cairns ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia calcicola'' G.W.Carr 1986
''Caladenia callitrophila'' D.L.Jones 1999
''Caladenia calyciformis'' (R.S.Rogers) Hopper & A.P.Br. 2004
''Caladenia campbellii'' D.L.Jones 1998
''Caladenia capillata'' (Tate) D.L.Jones 2000 - Daddy long leg orchid
''Caladenia cardiochila'' Tate 1887 - Thick-lipped spider orchid
''Caladenia carnea'' R.Br. 1810 - Pink fingers orchid
''Caladenia catenata'' (Sm.) Druce 1916 (publ. 1917) - White fingered orchid
''Caladenia caudata'' Nicholls 1948
''Caladenia chamaephylla'' D.L.Jones 1999
''Caladenia chapmanii'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia chlorostyla'' D.L.Jones, Molloy & M.A.Clem. 1997
''Caladenia christineae'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia citrina'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia clarkiae'' D.L.Jones 1991
''Caladenia clavigera'' A.Cunn. ex Lindl. 1840 - Plain-lip spider orchid
''Caladenia clavula'' D.L.Jones 1991
''Caladenia cleistantha'' D.L.Jones 1991
''Caladenia coactilis'' D.L.Jones 1991
''Caladenia colorata'' D.L.Jones 1991
''Caladenia concinna'' (Rupp) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. 1989
''Caladenia concolor'' Fitzg. 1882
''Caladenia conferta'' D.L.Jones 1991
''Caladenia congesta'' R.Br. 1810 - Black-tongue ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia corynephora'' A.S.George 1971 - Helmet-carrying ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia cracens'' D.L.Jones 1996
''Caladenia crebra'' A.S.George 1971
''Caladenia cristata'' R.S.Rogers 1923 - Comb-bearing ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia cruciformis'' D.L.Jones 1999
''Caladenia cruscula'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia cucullata'' Fitzg. 1876 - Hooded ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia curtisepala'' D.L.Jones 1991
''Caladenia decora'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia denticulata'' Lindl. 1839
''Caladenia dienema'' D.L.Jones 1998
''Caladenia dilatata'' R.Br. 1810
''Caladenia dimidia'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia dimorpha'' Fitzg. 1875
''Caladenia discoidea'' Lindl. 1839 - Bee orchid
''Caladenia dorrienii'' Domin 1912
''Caladenia doutchiae'' O.H.Sarg. 1921 - Doutch's ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia drakeoides'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia drummondii'' Benth. 1873 - Drummond's ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia dundasiae'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia echidnachila'' Nicholls 1933
''Caladenia elegans'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia ensata'' Nicholls 1947 - Sword-shaped ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia erythrochila'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia evanescens'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia excelsa'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia exilis'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia exilis exilis''
''Caladenia exilis vanleeuwenii'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia exstans'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia falcata'' (Nicholls) M.A.Clem. & Hopper 1989 - Sickle-shaped ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia ferruginea'' Nicholls 1947 : Rust-red Caladenia
''Caladenia filamentosa'' R.Br. 1810 - Thread-shaped ''Caladenia'', daddy long legs
''Caladenia filifera'' Lindl. 1839
''Caladenia fitzgeraldii'' Rupp 1942
''Caladenia flaccida'' D.L.Jones 1991
''Caladenia flava'' R.Br. 1810 : Cowslip orchid
''Caladenia flava flava''
''Caladenia flava maculata'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia flava sylvestris'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia flavovirens'' G.W.Carr 1991
''Caladenia footeana'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia formosa'' G.W.Carr 1991
''Caladenia fragrantissima'' D.L.Jones & G.W.Carr 1989 - Fragrant ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia fulva'' G.W.Carr 1991
''Caladenia fuscata'' (Rchb.f.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones 1989 - Dusky fingers orchid
''Caladenia fuscolutescens'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia gardneri'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia georgei'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia gladiolata'' R.S.Rogers 1907
''Caladenia gracilis'' R.Br. 1810 - Musky ''Caladenia''
''Caladenia gracillima'' (Rupp) D.L.Jones 2000
''Caladenia graminifolia'' A.S.George 1971
''Caladenia graniticola'' (Hopper & A.P.Br.) Hopper & A.P.Br. 2004
''Caladenia granitora'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia harringtoniae'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia hastata'' (Nicholls) Rupp 1942
''Caladenia heberleana'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia helvina'' D.L.Jones 1991
''Caladenia hiemalis'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia hillmanii'' D.L.Jones 1994
''Caladenia hirta'' Lindl. 1839 : Sugar Candy Orchid
''Caladenia hirta hirta''
''Caladenia hirta rosea'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia hoffmanii'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia hoffmanii graniticola'' Hopper & A.P.Br (synonym of ''Arachnorchis graniticola'' (Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem 2005)
''Caladenia horistes'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia huegelii'' Rchb.f. 1871 - Grand slipper orchid
''Caladenia incensa'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia incrassata'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia infundibularis'' A.S.George 1984
''Caladenia insularis'' G.W.Carr 1991
''Caladenia integra'' E.Coleman 1932 (publ. 1933) - Intact Caladenia
''Caladenia interjacens'' Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
''Caladenia iridescens'' R.S.Rogers 1920 - Large White Spider Orchid
''Caladenia javanica'' Benn. ex Ridl. in H.O.Forbes 1885
''Caladenia latifolia'' R.Br. 1810 - Broad leafed ''Caladenia'', (''Austr''.) pink fairies
Caladenia leptochila Fitzg. 1882 - Delicate-lipped Caladenia
Caladenia leptoclavia D.L.Jones 1991
Caladenia lindleyana (Rchb.f.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones 1989
Caladenia lobata Fitzg. 1882 - Lobed Caladenia
Caladenia lodgeana Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longicauda Lindl. 1839 : Long-petaled Caladenia
Caladenia longicauda albella Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longicauda australora Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longicauda borealis Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longicauda calcigena Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longicauda clivicola Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longicauda crassa Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longicauda eminens (Domin) Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longicauda longicauda
Caladenia longicauda merrittii Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longicauda redacta Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longicauda rigidula Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longiclavata E.Coleman 1930 - Long-clubbed Caladenia
Caladenia longifimbriata Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia longii R.S.Rogers 1932
Caladenia lorea Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia lowanensis G.W.Carr 1991 - Wimmera spider orchid
Caladenia luteola Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia lyallii Hook.f. 1853
Caladenia macroclavia D.L.Jones 1991
Caladenia macrostylis Fitzg. 1882
Caladenia magniclavata Nicholls 1947 - Large-clubbed Caladenia
Caladenia magnifica (Nicholls) D.L.Jones & G.W.Carr 1989
Caladenia marginata Lindl. 1839
Caladenia maritima D.L.Jones 1999
Caladenia melanema Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia mentiens D.L.Jones 1998
Caladenia menziesii R.Br. 1810
Caladenia meridionalis Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia mesocera Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia microchila Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia minor Hook.f. 1853
Caladenia montana G.W.Carr 1991
Caladenia multiclavia Rchb.f. 1871
Caladenia multiclavia brevicuspis Benth. 1873
Caladenia multiclavia multiclavia
Caladenia nana Endl. in J.G.C.Lehmann 1846 - Dwarf Caladenia
Caladenia nana nana
Caladenia nana unita (W.Fitzg.) Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia necrophylla D.L.Jones 1991
Caladenia nivalis Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia nobilis Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia nothofageti D.L.Jones, Molloy & M.A.Clem. 1997
Caladenia occidentalis Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia oenochila G.W.Carr 1991 - Red-lipped spider orchid
Caladenia orientalis (G.W.Carr) Hopper & A.P.Br. 2004
Caladenia ornata (Nicholls) D.L.Jones 2000
Caladenia ovata R.S.Rogers 1909
Caladenia pachychila Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia pallida Lindl. 1840
Caladenia paludosa Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia paradoxa Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia parva G.W.Carr 1991 - Small Greencomb spider orchid
Caladenia patersonii R.Br. 1810
Caladenia pectinata R.S.Rogers 1923 - Comb-like Caladenia
Caladenia pendens Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia pendens pendens
Caladenia pendens talbotii Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia phaeoclavia D.L.Jones 1991 - Black-clubbed Caladenia
Caladenia pholcoidea Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia pholcoidea augustensis Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia pholcoidea pholcoidea
Caladenia picta (Nicholls) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones ex Chapm. 1991
Caladenia pilotensis D.L.Jones 1999
Caladenia plicata Fitzg. 1882
Caladenia polychroma Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia porphyrea D.L.Jones 1999
Caladenia postea Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia procera Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia pulchra Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia pumila R.S.Rogers 1922
Caladenia pusilla W.M.Curtis 1979 - Small-flowered Caladenia
Caladenia quadrifaria (R.S.Rogers) D.L.Jones 1991
Caladenia radialis R.S.Rogers 1927 - Ray-shaped Caladenia
Caladenia radiata Nicholls 1949 - Rayed Caladenia
Caladenia remota Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia remota parva Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia remota remota
Caladenia reptans Lindl. 1839 - Crawling Caladenia
Caladenia reptans impensa Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia reptans reptans
Caladenia reticulata Fitzg. 1882 - Netted Caladenia
Caladenia rhomboidiformis (E.Coleman) M.A.Clem. & Hopper 1989 - Diamond-shaped Caladenia
Caladenia richardsiorum D.L.Jones 1991
Caladenia rigens D.L.Jones 1991
Caladenia rigida R.S.Rogers 1930
Caladenia rileyi D.L.Jones 1997
Caladenia robinsonii G.W.Carr 1991
Caladenia roei Benth. 1873 - Roe's Caladenia
Caladenia rosella G.W.Carr 1988 - Rosella spider orchid
Caladenia saccata (R.S.Rogers) Hopper & A.P.Br. 2004
Caladenia saggicola D.L.Jones 1998
Caladenia sanguinea D.L.Jones 1999
Caladenia septuosa D.L.Jones 1991
Caladenia serotina Hopper & A.P.Br. 2002
Caladenia sigmoidea R.S.Rogers 1938
Caladenia speciosa opper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia splendens Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia startiorum opper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia stellata D.L.Jones 1991
Caladenia stricta (R.J.Bates) R.J.Bates 1987 - Upright spider orchid
Caladenia subtilis D.L.Jones 1999
Caladenia sylvicola D.L.Jones 1998
Caladenia tensa G.W.Carr 1991
Caladenia tentaculata Tate 1889 - Large greencomb spider orchid
Caladenia tessellata Fitzg. 1876
Caladenia testacea R.Br. 1810
Caladenia testacea hildae (Pescott & Nicholls) Nicholls 1939
Caladenia testacea testacea
Caladenia thinicola Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia thysanochila G.W.Carr 1991
Caladenia tonellii D.L.Jones 1998
Caladenia toxochila Tate 1889 - Bow-lip Orchid
Caladenia transitoria D.L.Jones 1998 - Transitory Caladenia
Caladenia uliginosa A.S.George 1984
Caladenia uliginosa candicans Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia uliginosa patulens Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia uliginosa uliginosa
Caladenia ultima Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia valida (Nicholls) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones 1989
Caladenia variegata Colenso 1885
Caladenia venusta G.W.Carr 1991 - Large white spider orchid
Caladenia verrucosa G.W.Carr 1991
Caladenia versicolor G.W.Carr 1991
Caladenia villosissima (G.W.Carr) Hopper & A.P.Br. 2004
Caladenia viridescens Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia voigtii Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001: Voigt's Caladenia
Caladenia vulgaris D.L.Jones 1991
Caladenia vulgata Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia wanosa A.S.George 1984
Caladenia williamsiae Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia winfieldii Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia woolcockiorum D.L.Jones 1991
Caladenia xantha Hopper & A.P.Br. 2001
Caladenia xanthochila D.Beards. & C.Beards 1992
Caladenia xantholeuca D.L.Jones 1991