Australia So Much to See
The Aboriginal names Cara, Kararr, or Kar covered a number of different Spider Orchids.
Caladenia brownii, Karri Spider Orchid
A green or yellow spider orchid with rusty red bands down the petals. Labellum has long
fringes and the tip is dark red. A short hairy leaf.
Southern parts of the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes, and found through the Karri forests and further in the lower South West and lower Great Southern regions.
Caladenia corynephora, Club-lipped Spider Orchid
December
Northcliffe, in the Manjimup Shire, and occurs fairly close to the coast from Busselton to east of Albany and inland to Manjimup, favouring damper environments.
Caladenia denticulata subspecies denticulata, Yellow Spider Orchid
A lovely creamy yellow spider orchid, with fine red lines down the
petals into the dark red tip extensions. Labellum is white with red dotted line markings, and similar on the column. Column is green with a yellowish tip. Calli are thick and semi-translucent white. Labellum fringes are short and thick,
like a row of teeth. Leaves and stems are hairy.
August
Wongan Hills, and found in areas nearer the coast from Mandurah to Three
Springs, with inland specimens from near Wongan Hills, Goomalling and Kellerberrin.
Caladenia chapmanii, Chapmans Spider Orchid.
Caladenia chapmanii was named in 1983 after Dinninup farmer and orchid enthusiast Eric
Chapman.
A large red Spider Orchid with a wide white based labellum with red markingins and long and slender rich red petals. Colours can vary through shades of red or yellow with red markings and petal tips.
September
Dinninup (Boyup Brook shire), South
West region, Western Australia. Found in parts of the
South West and southern Wheatbelt, with and occurrence recorded in the
northern Wheatbelt near Dalwallinu.