Plants of
South Australia
Caladenia macroclavia
Orchidaceae
Large-club Spider-orchid
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
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Oodnadatta
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Wudinna
Keith
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Prior names

Calonemorchis macroclavia

Arachnorchis macroclavia

Calonema macroclavium

Common names

Large-club Spider-orchid

Etymology

Caladenia from the Greek 'kallos' meaning beauty and 'aden' meaning a gland, referring to the colourful labellum and the glistening glands at the base of the column that are present in many of the species. Macroclavia from the Greek 'macros' meaning large and 'clava' meaning club, referring to the large clubs on the sepals.

Distribution and status

Endemic to South Australia and restricted to the Yorke Peninsula, growing in fertile loamy soils in mallee and broombush. Native. Very rare in South Australia. Endangered under the EPBC Act.
Herbarium region: Northern Lofty
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Annual herb growing from an underground tuber, with a single oblong-lanceolate leaf covered in short hairs. Inflorescence on a long slender reddish stalk with one yellowish-green flower. Petals and sepals are broad at the base then tapering with central red strip with dark brown or golden tips. Dorsal sepal erect to incurved, lateral sepals thrust forward. The labellum recurved, green, white and crimson with margin fringed with long linear green teeth and 4 rows of large crimson club-shaped calli. Flowering between August and October. Fruits are pale-brown hairy, papery ellipsoid capsule containing numerous tiny seeds.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between October and November. Collect fat capsules as they start to dry and turn brown. Pods will split and release the seeds quickly and will require monitoring. To increase the chances of collecting mature pods, it is recommended that a small breathable bag (ie. Organza bags) be used to enclose the developing capsules. Place the capsules in a container that will hold fine seeds and leave to dry for a few weeks or until the capsule split. Then carefully hold the capsule and tap it gently to release the seeds. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place, refrigerator or in liquid nitrogen.

 

Seeds stored:
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LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)
Number
of plants
Date
collected
Collection number
Collection location
Date
stored
% ViabilityStorage
temperature
20-Oct-2005J. Quarmby
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
20-Oct-2005J. Quarmby
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
20-Oct-2005J. Quarmby
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
16-Oct-2005J. Quarmby
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
20-Oct-2005J. Quarmby
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
20-Oct-2005J. Quarmby
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
1 pod1-Sep-2007D. Ways
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
20-Oct-2005J. Quarmby
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
16-Oct-2005J. Quarmby
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
16-Oct-2005J. Quarmby
Yorke Peninsula
1-Nov-2016N/C-80°C
BGA2,800 (0.001 g)124-Oct-2018Muloowurtie CR
Yorke Peninsula
24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA6,100 (0.002 g)216-Oct-2020Wauraltee Beach Area
Yorke Peninsula
28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA90,200 (0.032 g)416-Oct-2020Muloowurtie CR
Yorke Peninsula
28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA778,900 (0.278 g)4-Oct-2021DJD4045
Yorke Peninsula
10-Aug-2022N/C-18°C, -80°C
BGA455,300 (0.163 g)412-Nov-2022Wuraltee
Yorke Peninsula
21-Jun-2023N/C-18°C, -80°C
Location: BGA — the seeds are stored at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, MSB — the seeds are stored at the Millennium Seed Bank, Kew, England.
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.