Caladenia

Spider orchids
C. carnea growing in Tasmania
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Caladeniinae
Genus: Caladenia
R.Br., 1810
Species
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Petalochilus R.S.Rogers
  • Arachnorchis D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Calonemorchis Szlach.
  • Drakonorchis (Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Jonesiopsis Szlach.
  • Phlebochilus (Benth.) Szlach.
  • Stegostyla D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Caladeniastrum (Szlach.) Szlach.
  • Cyanicula Hopper & A.P.Br.

Caladenia, commonly known as spider orchids,[3] is a genus of 350 species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Spider orchids are terrestrial herbs with a single hairy leaf and a hairy stem. The labellum is fringed or toothed in most species and there are small projections called calli on the labellum. The flowers have adaptations to attract particular species of insects for pollination. The genus is divided into three groups on the basis of flower shape, broadly, spider orchids, zebra orchids and cowslip orchids, although other common names are often used. Although they occur in other countries, most are Australian and 136 species occur in Western Australia, making it the most species-rich orchid genus in that state.

  1. ^ "Caladenia". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Caladenia". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hoffman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).