Elegant Spider Orchid (Arachnorchis formosa - formerly Caladenia formosa)

Flowers in Spring (Sept - Oct) - favours heathy woodland and is confined to western Victoria.

Large red flowers with no clubs.  The photo ruler indicates the height of this particular plant - a total of 17 inches (44cm).

Pollination of the Arachnorchis species has been studied very little but it is thought that spider orchids are generally pollinated by pseudocopulation (male thynnid wasp).

Flowers in Spring (Sep - Oct), favours grasslands with basalt outcrops.

Poorly opening, confined to basalt plains of western Victoria.  Endemic.  The photo ruler indicates the height of this plant - a total of 11 inches (28cm).

The colourful flowers of the Diuris genus appear to be pollinated mainly by small bees but syrphiid flies and beetles may also be pollinators.