Green Comb Spider orchid

Thanks Marc. Its the season now to go and find some more.

great shot!

Thanks for your comments Leuba and Vinny

Lovely series Martin. Hope I get to see one of these - so delicate.

Great bit of bush Martin, so many Green Comb Spider Orchids, I suspect both C. parva and C. phaeoclavia are there. Apparently C. dilatata has flattened yellow clubs on the end of the sepals and C. tentaculata is much larger (almost twice the size.

Orchid taxonomy seems to change like the wind, a lot of genera where taken out of Caladenia and recently put back in.
http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/viclist/a/inde... (The Vic List is the general consensus for tracking name changes)

The length of the green comb and the position of the flower facing upward might be features to consider....

I have a suggestion that it is the rather more common Mantis Orchid
http://www.retiredaussies.com/ColinsHome...
This site says that Caladenia is an obsolete taxon.

I'm certainly no expert but I'll help where I can, will check that spot out, it's just down the road from where I work.

Thanks Vinny.
You have got me inspired now. But I will havce to lean on you for some expert info. My travdelling buddy, Geoff W. knows this spot and said that some people call it the St Andrews Spider orchid. I will leave the geo pin exact for a day or two in case you want to take note.

For comparison to C. parva http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/780...

Beautiful flower!

Several species have been separated from C. dilatata including, C. parva (small green comb) and C. phaeoclavia (brown clubbed spider orchid). C. dilatata doesn't occur within the Melbourne area but may be in St. Andrews?
C. phaeoclavia has a larger flower than C. parva 40mm rather than 30mm.

You can walk right past and miss it altogether.
I think these are not common.

You're right.. it's time to look for flowers like these.