White Caladenia
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(Caladenia catenata)
White Caladenia (Caladenia catenata)
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© Greg Tasney
CC BY-SA 4.0
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© Greg Tasney
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Copyright:
CC BY-SA 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: © Greg Tasney | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ | Uploader: gregtasney | Publisher: iNaturalist |
Summary
Caladenia catenata, commonly known as White Caladenia or White Fingers, is a perennial herbaceous ground orchid native to a variety of habitats including coastal forests, heathlands, and dry sclerophyll forests in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria, Australia. It typically grows to a height of 10-50 centimeters. This orchid has a single hairy leaf at its base and produces one or two white, occasionally pink flowers on a thin, sparsely hairy stem. The flowers, which can be quite showy, bloom from August to November and feature a distinctive labellum without the red and white bars that characterize Caladenia carnea.
White Caladenia is valued for its delicate, attractive flowers and is sometimes cultivated by orchid enthusiasts. It requires a symbiotic relationship with specific soil fungi to thrive, making it challenging to grow outside its natural setting. In cultivation, it prefers well-drained sandy soils and a position that provides part shade to mimic its native understory environment. While not commonly used in general horticulture, it can be a unique addition to specialized native plant gardens or orchid collections. Due to its specific growing requirements, it is not prone to common garden diseases but can suffer from habitat loss in the wild.CC BY-SA 4.0
White Caladenia is valued for its delicate, attractive flowers and is sometimes cultivated by orchid enthusiasts. It requires a symbiotic relationship with specific soil fungi to thrive, making it challenging to grow outside its natural setting. In cultivation, it prefers well-drained sandy soils and a position that provides part shade to mimic its native understory environment. While not commonly used in general horticulture, it can be a unique addition to specialized native plant gardens or orchid collections. Due to its specific growing requirements, it is not prone to common garden diseases but can suffer from habitat loss in the wild.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0.5-1 feet
- Width: 0.5-1 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Flower Color: White
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Drainage: Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Butterfly Garden, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rock Garden
Natural Habitat
Coastal forests, heathlands, and dry sclerophyll forests
Other Names
Common Names: White Fingers, Fringed Spider Orchid
Scientific Names: Caladenia catenata, Arethusa catenata, Caladenia alba, Caladenia carnea var. alba, Caladenia javanica, Caladenia javanica, Petalochilus catenatus, Petalochilus javanicus
GBIF Accepted Name: Caladenia catenata