Lemon Spider Orchid
CR

Lemon Spider Orchid

Caladenia luteola

DecliningCRAU

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Caladenia luteola faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in Western Australia. The species' specialized mycorrhizal relationships make it particularly vulnerable to soil disturbance and chemical contamination from farming practices. Fire regime changes and invasive plant species further compromise the delicate woodland ecosystems this orchid depends upon for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This terrestrial orchid inhabits open woodlands and shrublands in southwestern Western Australia, typically growing in sandy or gravelly soils with specific mycorrhizal fungi associations. It occurs in areas with Mediterranean climate conditions, often in remnant vegetation patches that have escaped agricultural clearing.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Invasive/problematic species controlSpecies managementEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in ORCHIDACEAE

EN

Porpax angustifolia

Unknown
EN

Polystachya longiscapa

Unknown
CR

The Lost Spathoglottis

Spathoglottis arunachalensis

Declining
VU

Disperis galerita

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Lemon Spider Orchid classified as Critically Endangered?
Lemon Spider Orchid is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Caladenia luteola faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in Western Australia. The species' specialized mycorrhizal relationships make it particularly vulnerable to soil disturbance and chemical contamination from farming practices. Fire regime changes and invasive plant species further compromise the delicate woodland ecosystems this orchid depends upon for survival.
Where does Lemon Spider Orchid live?
Lemon Spider Orchid occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Lemon Spider Orchid?
The main threats to Lemon Spider Orchid are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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