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Crab–lipped spider orchid

Caladenia plicata

Also called Crab Lipped Spider Orchid

Crab–lipped spider orchid
Photo: Geoff Derrin, CC BY-SA 4.0

Crab-lipped spider orchid (Caladenia plicata) is a terrestrial orchid from south-west Western Australia with one hairy leaf and one or two red, yellow and pale green flowers whose lip trembles in the slightest breeze. It is grown mainly by native plant enthusiasts and is best left in its natural woodland habitat.

Family
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Grows as
Orchid
Light
Part shade
Water
Water in the growing season while the leaf is up, then keep dry during summer dormancy.
Soil
Well-drained sandy or gritty soil with leaf mould, as in its native forest habitat.
Temperature
Cool to mild temperate conditions; protect from frost and extreme summer heat.
How easy
Hard
Native range
SW. Australia
Climate
subtropical

About

Caladenia plicata, commonly known as the crab-lipped spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and one or two red, yellow and pale green flowers with an unusual labellum which vibrates in the slightest breeze.

Where it grows

The crab-lipped spider orchid is locally common, growing in a range of forested habitats, often in Casuarina thickets. It is found between Nannup and Hopetoun in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions of Western Australia.

Other Caladenia plants

Coastal spider orchid · Canberra spider orchid · Caladenia ×aestantha · Summer spider orchid · Fairy orchid · Stegostyla Alpina · Boranup spider orchid · Bundarra spider orchid · Charming spider orchid · Dainty spider orchid · Dainty blue china orchid · Genoa spider orchid

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Caladenia plicata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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