Carousel Spider Orchid

Caladenia arenicola
Nyungar: cara

Spider orchids are pollinated by male thynnid wasps lured to the flowers by a scent that mimics female wasp pheromone. Of course, mating with real female wasps is needed for this elegant system to continue and that is dependent on high quality bushland supporting both the orchids and the ground dwelling female wasps. From late winter through spring numerous orchids can be found from the woodlands to the wetlands including C. flava (cowslip orchid), C. georgei (tuart spider orchid), C. latifolia (fairy orchid) and several subspecies of C. longicauda (white spider orchid).

Florabase

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Rehabilitating Roe 8 acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge that the Rehabilitating Roe 8 project area is Wadjuk country and pay respect to Elders and all Nyungar people, past, present and future. We are committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.