Caladenia dundasiae

Most of the region has been taken over for crop cultivation. Much of the remaining land is privately owned. Introduced and feral animals, as well as environmentally harmful farming practices are significant threats to the native vegetation. Threats to Caladenia species in the region include further habitat degradation, fragmentation and loss of remnants, weed infestation, spread of Phytophthora cinnamoni and P. cryptogea; raising salinity, grazing, most notably by kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) but also rabbit and stock and potentially insects. Digging by small mammals which feed on the tuber, and prescribed burning undertaken when the orchid is most vulnerable (between April to early November) are further threats. Threats to roadside subpopulations include grading, chemical spraying, construction of drainage channels and the mowing of roadside vegetation. The impacts of these threats on the population of this species are unknown.

Poor recruitment threatens other Caladenia spp. of the region with few plants developing seed without artificial assistance. It is suspected that low orchid recruitment rates from seed dispersed in their natural environment may in part be due to the patchy distribution of mycorrhiza. Natural recruitment of terrestrial orchids may only occur in years when a longer growing season results from above average spring rainfall prior to the onset of summer dormancy. Climatic conditions during this time are more conducive to the formation of tubers. The taxon is an attractive spider orchid. The taxon does not appear to be sold commercially. The impacts of potential illegal collection for the horticultural trade, on the population of this species are unknown.

Three subpopulations appear to occur in nature reserves. However, there do not appear to be any specific conservation measures for this species and it is unknown if protection is adequate within these conservation units.

The taxon is grown in some botanical institutions. It is currently listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

The taxon is considered a Priority 1 - Poorly known species in Western Australia but not listed under the EBSP act or other conservation law in Australia (FloraBase 2009). Priority 1 - Poorly Known are taxa which are known from one or a few (generally fewer than five) populations which are under threat, either due to small population size, or being on lands under immediate threat, e.g., road verges, urban areas, farmland, active mineral leases, etc., or the plants are under threat, e.g., from disease, grazing by feral animals, etc. It may include taxa with threatened populations on protected lands. Such taxa are under consideration for declaration as ‘rare flora’, but are in urgent need of further survey.

As with all orchids, the taxon should not be removed from the wild. Field surveys should be conducted in historical sites of collection and in potentially suitable areas to determine if local extinction has occurred, possibly locate new subpopulations and determine the size of the population. The population should be monitored at regular interval to detect any change in dynamics. Adequate conservation strategies should be determined according to the finding of these surveys. Conservations measures in place in Western Australia for other Caladenia spp. include fencing against grazing, deep-ripping, rubbish removal, spot spraying of weeds, development of suitable fire management strategy, declared rare flora markers, habitat rehabilitation, raising of the public awareness, seed collection and storage, study on the biology (e.g., population genetic structure, levels of genetic diversity and minimum viable population size) and ecology of the taxon and on the impacts of the various ongoing threats on the population.