Caladenia longicauda, splendens

Caladenia longicauda
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The C. longicauda group contains about twelve subspecies most of which have large, white flowers. The subspecies are generally very similar with subtle differences ranging from differences in the size of the flowers, size and shape of the labellum and the distribution. As a group, they are very common across the south west.

Many of the different subspecies of White Spider Orchids are very difficult to identify. Most of the photogrtaphs on this page are labelled as C. longicauda subsp eminens as this subspecies has the largest distribution and is somewhat easier to identify by its large, broad labellum and glistening white colour. Species marked with an asterisk (*) are ones in which the identification could be incorrect.

Caladenia longicauda White Spider Orchid	Caladenia longicauda White Spider Orchid	Caladenia splendens Splendid Spider Orchid (distinctive with its huge flowers -22cm- and its strong U shaped labellum)	Caladenia longicauda subsp.clivicola Hills White Spider Orchid*
C. longicauda subsp. calcigena is identified by its coastal habitat and calli, which tend to merge at the tip of the labellum, rather than remain in neat rows. C. longicauda subsp. redacta is distinguished by smaller flowers with a shorter labellum fringe. It is found in winter wet areas from Collie to Mt Barker
Caladenia longicauda subsp calcigenia Coastal White Spider Orchid	Caladenia longicauda subsp redacta* Tangled White Spider orchid
Caladenia longicauda subsp eminens Stark White Spider Orchid	Caladenia longicauda subsp eminens Stark White Spider Orchid	Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens Stark White Spider	Caladenia longicauda subs eminens Interesting specimen where labellum is mutated into petal.
Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens Stark White Spider	Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens Stark White Spider Albino specimen (no red colouring)	Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens Stark White Spider	Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens Stark White Spider Orchid*
Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens Stark White Spider	Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens Note the flower spider that has caught a bee.	Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens Stark White Spider Albino specimen (no red colouring)
Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens* interesting specimen with no calli or labellum fringes	A hybrid, possibly between C. longicauda subsp. eminens and C. uliginosa	Caladenia x enigma Hybrid between C. barbarossa and C. longicauda. Found where both C. barbarossa and C. longicauda were present.