What pops into your head when you think of orchids? Large tropical ornamental house plants? Did you know that there are a wide range of orchids native to Australia? Even here at Eurardy Reserve, in this semi-arid country we have recorded more than 25 species. We're going to highlight 3 that call Eurardy home.
The Northern Dwarf Spider Orchid
(Caladenia bryceana subsp. cracens)
This tiny orchid can flower at just 3cm tall and the northern subspecies can only be found from around Northampton in WA to just north of Eurardy. It’s currently listed nationally as vulnerable.
The Small Dragon Orchid
(Caladenia barbarella)
This slightly larger orchid is still only around 8cm tall. Its distribution is even more restricted and it's currently listed nationally as endangered. When it was listed as endangered, it was noted that there were only 14 known populations.
The Kalbarri Spider Orchid
(Caladenia wanosa)
This beautifully and distinctively striped orchid was only described in 2001. It was named after the Western Australian Native Orchid Study and Conservation Group. The Kalbarri Spider Orchid is also listed as vulnerable and only occurs in a small area from around the Murchison River up to Eurardy.