Caladenia cruciformis

Threats to the Red-cross Spider-orchid in Victoria are well documented. At all sites, the species is impacted by grazing and weed invasion, with disturbance owing to trampling by visiting orchid enthusiasts also apparent; at specific sites, potential development, farming operations, and the reactivation of a disused quarry represent potential future threats (The State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment 2003, Duncan and Coates 2010). Of the threats documented, the most significant threat at all sites is grazing by kangaroos or wallabies and/or rabbits; grazing by feral goats and sheep has also been observed at some localities (Duncan and Coates 2010). Conservation measures have been implemented to mitigate against grazing and disturbance through the erection of fencing and caging (The State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment 2003, Duncan and Coates 2010); however, many individuals remain susceptible to these threats. The impact of continuing drought on the species, and its pollination and fungal associations is not clear; however, it is suspected that these associations have been adversely affected at some localities, and low flowering rates have been observed at most sites (Duncan and Coates 2010). 

The status of the species in South Australia, and impact of threats, require further investigation; it is suspected that the threat profile would be similar across the whole range. While immediate threats are being mitigated against, it is important that the impact of longer-term threats, such as drought and its impact on maintenance of pollinator activity and fungal associations, are more thoroughly elucidated.

One Caladenia cruciformis germplasm accession of natural origin is held by the Millennium Seed Bank Project in the UK (Genesys Global Portal on Plant Genetic Resources 2020). It is represented in the living collection at one botanic garden (BGCI 2020). The species has been recorded from Dalyenong and Dalyenong West Nature Conservation Reserves, and Dalyenong I59 Bushland Reserve in Victoria, and Mount Monster Conservation Park in South Australia (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2020); passive conservation is presumed in these areas. The species is listed under Appendix II of CITES and Annex B of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations (UNEP 2020). The Red-cross spider-orchid is listed as Threatened in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and has been listed as Endangered in in the Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria (The State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment 2003, Department of Environment and Primary Industries 2014). The species has been included in a recently updated list of Endangered species in South Australia (Government of South Australia 2020). 

In response to the threatened status assigned in Victoria, a National Recovery Plan was prepared under the Commonwealth Environment and Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, involving the implementation of a number of conservation measures (Duncan and Coates 2010). These included the erection of fencing and caging to exclude grazing herbivores and anthropogenic disturbance; regular demographic monitoring; testing for the presence of mycorrhizal fungi; hand pollination and seed collection; consultation and liaison with landholders, land managers, and stakeholders; in vitro storage and culture of mycorrhizal fungi; storage and propagation of seedlings, and translocation of more than 200 plants to in situ sites following in vitro propagation (The State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment 2003, Wright et al. 2009, Duncan and Coates 2010). Alongside continued implementation of these recovery actions, surveys and mapping of critical habitat remains necessary (Duncan and Coates 2010), as well as further study into the status of the species in South Australia. As the Recovery Plan has been in place for ten years, the production of a report detailing its outcomes, and the contemporary status of the population would be beneficial.