Thursday, October 24, 2013

C is for CALADENIA, CALLISTEMON and CLEMATIS

Caladenia denticulata, known as the spider orchid, is a tuberous perennial herb 0.15-0.35m high with a strong putrid odour and three colour forms: yellow, white/pink and red, and flower through September and October.  They grow in laterite, clay, loam and deep sand; winter-wet flats, river banks and creeklines in the southwest of Western Australia.  (I have picked spider orchids occasionally when out in the bush but had never noticed they had a bad smell).  They are found in the Avon wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Geraldton sandplains, jarrah forest and the Swan coastal plain.



Caladenia flava commonly known as the cowslip orchid is found across southwest Western Australia. It is a perennial herb with underground stems.  The leaf and flowerstalk appear from these to present several yellow flowers during July-December.  They grow in many different soil types including laterite and granite.


Callistemon glaucus, known as the Albany bottlebrush, is a shrub in the family Myrtaceae.  The species is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia and grows up to between 1 and 3 metres in height and has a slender, erect habit.  Red flower spikes are produced from September to December in the species native range.  (We have one in our front garden that actually flowers later than that).  It occurs on sandy or clay soils on swampy flats between Perth and Albany.



Clematis pubescens, known locally as common clematis, is a member of the Ranunculaceae family, found in coastal regions of southern Western Australia.  It is a strong, dioecious, woody shrub or climber to 5 metres high with white-cream flowers from May to November.  It can be found in the Avon wheatbelt, Esperance plains, jarrah forest, mallee, Swan coastal plain and Warren.  (I remember when holidaying down in Denmark on our south coast seeing the clematis climbing over various shrubs and trees, and it was a beautiful sight).


I am trying, if I possibly can, to only show wildflowers endemic to Western Australia alone. Sometimes a genus will grow in other states but with certain species of that genus only growing in the West.

10 comments:

  1. Hey...finally....a flower we have here. Clematis. Everytime I look at ours now I will think of you in Australia looking at yours.

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    1. I believe there is also a domesticated form of clematis and am wondering if there lies a distinction without a difference. They are a very pretty flower and it's nice to think yours will remind you of we down under.

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  2. Oh Delores is right we have those here and I am so enjoying seeing what else you have over there. Hug B

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    1. Thanks Buttons. I am finding flowers that even I was not familiar with so this is exciting for me as well. xx

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  3. Love the orchids, the bottle brush and the clematis. The clematis we have is definitely a strong climber - and is now very happily blooming at the top of a large gum tree in the back yard.
    Speaking of flowers with vile smells... have you ever come across the 'dead-horse lily'? Stunning flower, but very aptly named. My mother grew them.

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  4. These flowers are a real delight aren't they? I am thinking perhaps trying to buy a clematis to climb over one of our trees.
    There are some flowers I've come across that don't have a particularly desirable scent but no, I don't think I've ever seen the 'dead-horse lily. I know there is a plant that I think blooms once a year that is particularly vile.

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  5. Hari OM
    More of nature's delights. So far so good Mimisie - looking forward to 'D'!! YAM xx

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    1. Glad you are enjoying the flowers Yam. D coming up soon. xx

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  6. The Clematis is gorgeous! I want one....

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  7. It is rather gorgeous isn't it? I've been trying to find out more about it and apparently it can be difficult to grow but I think there are more domesticated types that may be easier to keep alive in the home garden. In the bush down south it seems to grow everywhere without a problem. Perth and Adelaide may be a tad too hot perhaps.

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