Scientific Name: Caladenia helvina Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region
Common Name: summer spider-orchid
Family Classification (Clade): Monocots
Family: Orchidaceae
Form Description: Leaf linear-lanceolate, base reddish, hairy. Scape wiry, densely hairy.
Height (m): 0.2 – 0.5
Flowers: Tall tailed-spider orchid, 1-2 flowers, greenish to yellow with dark glandular tips, greenish-yellow labellum, reddish-purple calli, yellowish column.
Fruit: Papery capsule
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Grassy and heathy open eucalypt forest and sheoak/hakea heathland. Widely distributed from south-west coastal areas to higher altitudes in south and north-east.
Site Tolerance
Dry, Exposed, Moist, Windy
Soil Tolerance
Sandy, Well-drained
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
General Notes
Habitat with low to high fire frequency.
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.