Family Index

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Scientific Name

Caladenia brachyscapa

Family Name

ORCHIDACEAE

Common Name

Short Spider Orchid

Status

Endangered

Height

0.03m - 0.15m (3-15cm)

Flowers

Flower single, reddish pink, with thick blackish osmophores on all the segments, labellum white to reddish with darker veins and maroon apex, calli dark reddish purple, column transluscent with reddish markings.

Fruit

Papery capsule

Form

leaf linear, base purple blotched, hairy, underside densely hairy.

Municipalities

Flinders Island

Communities

Coastal Vegetation

Habitat Notes

Among grasses and low shrubs in sparse coastal scrub.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Exposed; Moist; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Tender

Soil Tolerance

Loam; Sandy

General Notes

Fire prone habitat. Not represented in reserves and very rare because of grazing. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Seed Treatment Method

Standard

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

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 tousands 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.

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes