Caladenia splendens, commonly known as the splendid spider orchid, or splendid white spider orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three mostly white flowers with a fringe of long teeth on the sides of the labellum. Along with the giant spider orchid, Caladenia excelsa it is the largest of the spider orchids.
Caladenia splendens is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. Up to three mostly white flowers NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide are borne on a stalk NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The sepals and petals have long, brownish thread-like tips and often have red lines on their backs. The dorsal sepal is erect, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The lateral sepals are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide, spread apart and curve downwards. The petals are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide and arranged like the lateral sepals. The labellum is NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and white to cream-coloured with narrow red teeth up to 14sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long on the sides. The tip of the labellum is curled under and there are four rows of white and red calli up to 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from September to October.[1] [2] [3]
Caladenia splendens was first formally described in 2001 by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown from a specimen collected near Gingin and the description was published in Nuytsia.[4] The specific epithet (splendens) is a Latin word meaning "splendid" or "resplendent"[5] referring to the "brilliant white" colour of this orchid.
The splendid spider orchid is found between Gingin and Frankland in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions where it grows in woodland and forest in moist gullies and other places where water is available in winter.
Caladenia splendens is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.