Caladenia actensis

16 Canberra Spider Orchid at Bungendore, NSW

Caladenia actensis at Bungendore, NSW - 2 Oct 2021
Caladenia actensis at Bungendore, NSW - 2 Oct 2021
Caladenia actensis at Bungendore, NSW - 2 Oct 2021
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Identification history

Caladenia actensis 10 Oct 2021 TobiasHayashi
Caladenia tentaculata 9 Oct 2021 yellowboxwoodland

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Significant sighting

MichaelMulvaney noted:

13 Oct 2021

New location of this endangered locally endemic orchid and the first and only location outside of the ACT.

12 comments

TobiasHayashi wrote:
   9 Oct 2021
The larger spider orchids are Caladenia parva (used to be called phaeoclavia). The smaller ones, however are Caladenia actensis! Are these all from the same location?? So far, Caladenia actensis has only been found in the ACT, so any new population outside the ACT would be big news!
   10 Oct 2021
Yes these are from the same location.
TobiasHayashi wrote:
   10 Oct 2021
I've confirmed this as Caladenia actensis, (photo 5, one individual in photo 3) although most of the photos are Caladenia parva. This is the first record of the species outside the ACT!
CathB wrote:
   10 Oct 2021
It might be a good idea to make separate sightings for the two species here so that the main image isn't associated with the wrong name. Images 5 and 3 would be C. actensis and 1,2 and 4 C. parva.
AaronClausen wrote:
   10 Oct 2021
Wow that is totally awesome.
waltraud wrote:
   11 Oct 2021
Hi the specimens shown in the main (1.) photo and 2. photo are not Canberra Spider Orchid; the labellum looks more like C. atrovespa to me (I don't know C. parva and couldn't find it on the Caladenia species drop-down list). The specimens in photos 3 and 4 seem to be the same (possibly C atrovespa) with perhaps the exception of the left specimen in photo 3 which looks like a CSO. The specimen in photo 5 is a Canberra Spider Orchid. I agree with Cath to separate sightings.
   11 Oct 2021
I have removed the photos that do not include C actensis and will post them separately as suggested in the earlier comments
   11 Oct 2021
Another photo has been added.
waltraud wrote:
   12 Oct 2021
Great finding. I think, the sighting should be nominated as being "Significant". To my knowledge, this is the first record of this species declared critically endangered under Federal and ACT legislation which has been found in the area.
jks wrote:
   14 Oct 2021
Woah 🤯 the only location in NSW!
waltraud wrote:
   15 Oct 2021
yeah, this is fantastic, a really great and important finding.
yellowboxwoodland, if you can / have the time check around - there might be more. 2 laNina in a row - who knows whether we experience similar excellent CSO conditions...
MattM wrote:
   15 Oct 2021
Great record! But I think the species may need to be renamed ‘Caladenia act&nswensis’. :p

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