Caladenia flavovirens

G.W.Carr Christmas Spider-orchid

Indig. Flora & Fauna Assoc. Misc. Pap. 1: 4 (1991)

APNI

Taxonomic status Accepted

Occurrence status Present

Establishment means Native

Degree of establishment Native

Threat status

FFG: Endangered (EN)

Flowers Dec.–Jan.

GleP, VVP, GipP, EGU, HSF, HNF, MonT, VAlp. From coastal to near-coastal habitats through to low altitude mountain forest (e.g. Mt Dandenong area), formerly common near Portland where now rare and localized, and possibly extinct in the Lorne and Marlo areas. Moderately common in upland forests of north-east Victoria. Grows among shrubs in stunted coastal scrub, often in sandy soils, or in open montane forest with a grassy understorey.

Caladenia flavovirens differs from all other greenish yellow flowered Caladenia species in having sepal tails not distinctly clubbed and with relatively widely spaced (not densely crowded), sessile glands.

Caladenia aestiva has been treated as a distinct species, but Kosky (2021) has shown it to be conspecific with C. flavovirens.

Source:

Entwisle, T.J. (1994). Orchidaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., ‍Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons‍, pp. 740–901. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Updated by: Neville Walsh, 6 Oct. 2021