Scientific Name: Caladenia patersonii
Common Name: patersons 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: Long-tailed spider orchid. Leaf lanceolate, base red to purple blotched, densely hairy. Scape wiry, densely hairy.
Height (m): 0.25 – 0.35
Flowers: Flowers 1-2 commonly creamy white with darker red lines and reddish brown caudae, labellum wholly white to cream, sometimes the apex maroon, calli reddish, column translucent with reddish markings. Scented.
Fruit: Papery capsule
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Grows in sandy and clay soils in low shrubby and sedgy heathland.
Site Tolerance
Exposed, Moist
Soil Tolerance
Clay, Loam, Sandy, Well-drained
Frost Tolerance
Tender
General Notes
Abundant flowering after fire, diminishing with shrubby regrowth. Restricted distribution due to habitat loss.
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.