Caladenia barbarossa and similar - Dragon Orchids
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Originally only one species of dragon orchid was known and this was named Caladenia barbarossa. More recently three new species were discovered, bringing the total to four. The four species were then placed in the genus Drakonorchis.
The genus has now been reclassified as a subgenus of Caladenia. Thus the orchids are now known as Caladenias.

C. barbarossa has a wide, often densely hairy labellum. C. mesocera has a narrow labellum with little hair. It also has two reclined horns near the base of the labellum. Caladenia drakeoides has a hinged labellum with petals and sepals that hang close to the stem - it looks similar to a hammer orchid, hence its name drakeoides, named after the hammer orchids, Drakaea.

Caladenia barbarosa
Common Dragon Orchid

Caladenia barbarossa
Common Dragon Orchid

Interesting specimen with two labellums

Interesting specimen with two labellums

Caladenia barbarossa
Common Dragon Orchid

Caladenia barbarossa
Common Dragon Orchid

Caladenia x enigma
Hybrid between C. barbarossa and C. longicauda

 

Caladenia mesocera
Narrow-lipped Dragon Orchid

Caladenia mesocera
Narrow-lipped Dragon Orchid

 

 

Caladenia drakeoides
Hinged Dragon Orchid

Caladenia drakeoides
Hinged Dragon Orchid

Caladenia drakeoides
Hinged Dragon Orchid
Albino speciemen