Close-up, Flora, OM-1, Photography, Tasmania

White Orchid

Caladenia cracens (Elegant caladenia) is a small white and dark pink spider orchid, quite common around the foothills of Mt Wellington in light bush and scrub on dry hillsides and ridges.

Flowering from early-mid October through November, it has a single narrow hairy leaf and usually one flower but occasionally two. SOURCE

OM1, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm F2.8 Macro – 1/60 sec; f/4.5; ISO 320

These small flowers are the first type of orchid I started seeing and sparked my interest in these diverse plants. Though small, the white flower stands out in the bush and they are fairly abundant in the area I walk.

OM1, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm F2.8 Macro – 1/100 sec; f/4.5; ISO 320
This one is upside down with a broken stem but shows the pink well.
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm F2.8 Macro – 1/10 sec; f/13; ISO 1600

Tasmania has around 196 different native orchid species, over 60 are endemic – only found in Tasmania. They represent a significant part of the flora of Tasmania and are fascinating plants. More information can be found HERE.

M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm F2.8 Macro – 1/25 sec; f/13; ISO 1600

My music rabbit hole has been deep and enlightening this week. Who would have thought that “West African Psychedelic Funk” was a genre!! A real eclectic fusion of cultures with a huge jazz influence. If you are curious, search your favourite music platform and take the plunge – I’m still down the hole!

For a taste, and with Halloween just gone, here’s a link to one of my favorites called “Zombie” by Fela Kuti on Spotify.

Thanks for visiting 😀

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TasView (Tone)

Tone Bacon - Tasmanian photographer. tasview.com

20 thoughts on “White Orchid”

    1. Thanks John, I had seen these little flowers for a few years before I realised what they were and how special they are. It’s strange how you can see without seeing until you really look 😀

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  3. What a beautiful specimen. It must be wonderful to live in a country where no fewer than 196 species can be considered native. I assume that you have already been able to photograph a nice collection of orchids. We here in Belgium also have a number of orchids, but much fewer. Only a few are common, the others are extremely rare (at least in our country).
    Thank you for sharing these beautiful images and have a wonderful Sunday.
    Greetings,
    Rudi

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    1. Thanks Rudi,
      I’ve been into finding and photographing fungi for many years and oddly only began to notice the orchids a few years ago. I’ve only found four species locally – this post and the two posts preceding, as well as a bearded orchid (featured in this post from 2020), which I think I have found leaves of one where I saw it then, but it is still yet to flower.
      The weather has been all over the show here this year and seems to be messing with the plants flowering. I’ve not really gone elsewhere to hunt other orchids but there are some strange and wonderful ones here! Some only appear in certain areas in small colonies and are also rare.

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      1. Orchids are subject to very strict biotope conditions. Some people like poor grasslands, others need calcareous soil and many are also dependent on the presence of certain fungi in the soil with which the root of the orchid lives in symbiosis. So you certainly won’t be able to find them at every location. But there will be people in your area who know where to find them and can give you a hint. The internet can also be quite useful in that area. We wish you the best of luck in finding new species, at least for you 🙂

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  5. So beautiful orchid and interesting to get to know that Tasmania has around 196 different native orchid species, over 60 are endemic. Thank you for sharing!

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