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Image Credit: Anna Povey – with permission
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Image Credit: Anna Povey – with permission
Scientific Name: Caladenia caudata Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region
Common Name: tailed spider-orchid
Family Classification (Clade): Monocots
Family: Orchidaceae
Threatened Species Status: Vulnerable
Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.
Form Description: Leaf broadly linear, base reddish-purple, densely hairy.
Height (m): 0.08 – 0.15
Flowers: Flowers usually single 40-50mm across. Pinkish-red flowers, dark red to blackish osmophores on all perianth segments. Labellum tip tapering to a long tail.
Fruit: Papery capsule
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Heathy and grassy eucalypt forest and woodlands, often with sheoaks. Sunny north facing slopes.
Site Tolerance
Dry, Exposed, Moist, Shady
Soil Tolerance
Loam, Sandy, Well-drained
Frost Tolerance
Tender
General Notes
Flowers are pollinated by male Thynnine wasps. Fire frequency moderate to high.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Treatment Notes
Orchid seeds are very minute yellow, brown or blackish dust-like particles. Orchid seeds are produced within a capsule that splits at maturity and releases thousands to millions of seeds. Dispersed by wind and water and only germinate following infection of the embryo by a suitable mycorrhizal fungus. Very few seeds become mature plants. For more information see Jones, Wapstra, Tonelli, Harris (1999): The Orchids of Tasmania.