Plants of
South Australia
Caladenia richardsiorum
Orchidaceae
Little Dip Spider-orchid
Display all 11 images
Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
Enlarge Map
Copy Map
Copy Map
Display IBRA region text

Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 3

Prior names

Calonemorchis richardsiorum

Arachnorchis richardsiorum

Calonema richardsiorum

Caladenia aff. hastata (Nicholls)Rupp

Caladenia sp. A

Etymology

Caladenia from the Greek 'callos' meaning beauty and 'aden' meaning a gland; referring to the colourful labellum and the glistening glands at the base of the column that adorn many of the species. Richardsiorum named in honour of Helen and Barry Richards of Victoria for their dedication and unerring quest for improved knowledge on the propagation and cultivation of Australian terrestrial orchids.

Distribution and status

Endemic to South Australia and found only in the lower South-east, growing in coastal vegetation. Native. Very rare in South Australia. Endangered in Australia under the EPBC Act.
Herbarium region: South Eastern
NRM region: South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Annual terrestrial orchid growing from an underground tuber to 40 cm high with a single flower and a single lanceolate leaf to 22 cm long. Flower is yellow green up to 40 mm wide. Sepals have prominent but short black clubs 8-10 mm long. The labellum is is greenish-cream has maroon calli and toothed margins. Flowering between September and November. Fruits are brown papery ellipsoid capsule. Seeds are very small brown ellipsoid seed with a long translucent brown mesh-like covering.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between December and February. Collect fat capsules as they start to dry and turn brown. Pods will split and release the seeds quickly and will require monitoring. To increase the chances of collecting mature pods, it is recommended that a small breathable bag (ie. Organza bags) be used to enclose the developing capsules. Place the capsules in a container that will hold fine seeds and leave to dry for a few weeks or until the capsule split. Then carefully hold the capsule and tap it gently to release the seeds. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place, a refrigerator, or in liquid nitrogen. For the NVC South East Orchid Project six populations consisting of more than 700 individuals in total were recorded from Rivoli Bay, Nora Creina, Cullen Reserve, Lankys Well, Teeluk and Little Dip Conservation Park. Approximately 2,500,000 seeds (1.5 g) were banked from these six populations. Seed viability ranged from 68% to 90%. Seed germination in Caladenia species is difficult without compatible mycorrhizal fungi.

Seeds stored:
  Hide
LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)
Number
of plants
Date
collected
Collection number
Collection location
Date
stored
% ViabilityStorage
temperature
 
MSB

593,100 (0.15 g)
Marcia Lorenz
South Eastern
81%
1 pod7-Nov-2007C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
1 pod7-Nov-2007C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
1 pod26-Oct-2007C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
1 pod26-Oct-2007C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
1 pod9-Nov-2007C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
2 pods26-Nov-2007C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
5-Nov-2002V. Natt
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
BGA230,000 (0.138 g)12 podsOisin Sweeny
South Eastern
1-Nov-201681%-80°C
BGA220,000 (0.123 g)4 podsOisin Sweeny
South Eastern
1-Nov-201690%-80°C
3 pods27-Nov-2007D. Hinchliffe
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
5-Nov-2002V. Natt
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
5-Nov-2002V. Natt
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
5-Nov-2002V. Natt
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
5-Oct-2002V. Natt
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
5-Nov-2002V. Natt
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
1 pod27-Nov-2007D. Hinchliffe
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
1 pod21-Nov-2007D. Hinchliffe
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
BGA250,000 (0.149 g)21 pods4-Jul-2005C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-201679%-80°C
BGA490,000 (0.294 g)29 pods4-Jul-2005C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-201689%-80°C
1 pod9-Nov-2007C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
BGA380,000 (0.224 g)26 pods4-Jul-2005C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-201685%-80°C
BGA320,000 (0.192 g)29 pods4-Jul-2005C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-201668%-80°C
2 pods21-Nov-2007D. Hinchliffe
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
21-Nov-2007D. Hinchliffe
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
21-Nov-2007D. Hinchliffe
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
1 pod9-Nov-2007C. Dickson
South Eastern
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
BGA350,000 (0.211 g)7 podsOisin Sweeny
South Eastern
1-Nov-201680%-80°C
Location: BGA — the seeds are stored at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, MSB — the seeds are stored at the Millennium Seed Bank, Kew, England.
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.