Caladenia cracens

Alpine areas are well protected in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area but lower elevation woodlands and grasslands receive little protection and have been greatly modified for grazing. Fires eliminate rainforest, replacing it with mixed forest and scrub. Threats to terrestrial orchids in the region include further land degradation, spread of invasive weeds, inappropriate fire regimes, inappropriate increase in tourist frequency and use in protected areas, and the spread of Phytophthora cinnamomi, a root-rotting fungus that attacks a range of native plants. Overgrazing, logging and mining are ongoing outside protected areas (Mockrin and Kitching 2001), although how these threats directly impacts of the population of this orchid is unknown. Poor recruitment has been observed in several other Caladenia spp. Low recruitment rates may be linked to the patchy distribution of Mycorrhiza and low average spring rainfall (Patten et al. 2008). It is an attractive orchid although it is reported to be very difficult to grow (Jones 2006). The impacts of potential illegal collection on the population are unknown.

This orchid has been collected or observed within several conservation units and is reported to be well represented and protected in reserves (Jones 1996). It does not figure on the list of the threatened orchids of Tasmania. It is currently listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), giving strict regulation in order to avoid utilisation incompatible with the survival of the species in the wild. This attractive orchid is grown in botanical institutions and by hobbyists. Field surveys in historical sites of collection and potentially suitable habitats should be undertaken to locate any additional subpopulations, occurrences, remnants and to help confirm the current range and give an estimate the population size. Detection of the species is optimum during the flowering period. Seeds should be collected and stored for germplasm conservation.