Plants of
South Australia
Caladenia valida
Orchidaceae
Robust Spider-orchid
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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
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Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
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Prior names

Arachnorchis valida

Calonemorchis valida

Calonema validum

Caladenia aff. huegelii Rchb.f.

Caladenia reticulata var. valida

Caladenia fitzgeraldii

Etymology

Caladenia from the Greek 'kallos' meaning beauty and 'aden' meaning a gland, referring to the colourful labellum and the glistening glands at the base of the column that are present in many of the species. Valida from the Latin 'validus' meaning well-developed or strong, possible referring to its taller stature and larger flowers compared to C. reticulata with which it was once included (although the author did not give a reason for applying this name).

Distribution and status

Found on Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, growing on sandy and lateritic soils in heathland or heathy woodland. Also found in Victoria. Native. Rare in South Australia. Very rare in Victoria.
Herbarium regions: Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Annual terrestrial orchid to 40 cm high in flower with a single hairy lanceolate leaf to 15 cm long. Inflorescence on a hairy slender stem with one (sometimes two) white to cream (greenish on opening) flowers with red streaks. Segments abroad at the base and tapering to a fine points. Labellum on a tremulous claw, whitish with a red tip and margins with red and white teeth. Lamina with 4-6 rows of red calli. Flowering between August and October. Fruits are pale-brown hairy, papery ellipsoid capsule.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between late October and November. 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, refrigerator or in liquid nitrogen. Seed germination in orchid species is difficult in the absence of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi.

Fire response

Obligate re-spouter and re-seeder.

Longevity: ?? years

Time to flowering: ?? years

Recovery work

In 2020-2021 this species was assessed post-fire in 1 year old fire scars. A total of 33,000 seeds have been collected & banked for a population outside the 2020 fire scar. Further populations will be assessed and seeds collected on Kangaroo Island in 2021–2022. Germination screening testing the response to fire cues will be undertaken in 2021. The project work is supported by John T. Reid Foundation.

Seeds stored:
  Hide
LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)
Number
of plants
Date
collected
Collection number
Collection location
Date
stored
% ViabilityStorage
temperature
BGA160,000 (0.058 g)310-Nov-2010J. Quarmby
Southern Lofty
10-Aug-202265%-80°C
BGA177,300 (0.063 g)313-Oct-2021Range Rd & Waitpinga Rd
Southern Lofty
10-Aug-2022N/C-18°C
BGA33,000 (0.012 g)329-Oct-2020J.J.Smith
Southern Lofty
10-Aug-2022N/C-18°C
BGA263,300 (0.094 g)628-Sep-2021DJD4038
Kangaroo Island
10-Aug-2022N/C-18°C
BGA1,324,000 (0.473 g)1928-Sep-2021JRG817
Kangaroo Island
10-Aug-2022N/C-18°C, -80°C
BGA910,000 (0.325 g)159-Oct-2021DJD4038 (Andy Young collection)
Kangaroo Island
10-Aug-2022N/C-18°C, -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.