Augustus spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Augustus spider orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Caladenia |
| Species: |
C. pholcoidea
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| Subspecies: |
C. p. subsp. augustensis
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| Trinomial name | |
| Caladenia pholcoidea subsp. augustensis Hopper & A.P.Br.
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| Synonyms | |
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The Caladenia pholcoidea subsp. augustensis, commonly called the Augustus spider orchid, is a unique plant. It belongs to the amazing orchid family, known for its beautiful flowers. This special orchid is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It is quite rare! It has one hairy leaf and usually grows up to three mostly white flowers. These flowers have long, spreading petals and sepals, which are parts of the flower that look like petals.
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What Does the Augustus Spider Orchid Look Like?
The Augustus spider orchid is a ground-dwelling plant. This means it grows in the soil, not on other plants or trees. It is a perennial plant, so it lives for more than two years. Each year, its leaves might die back, but it grows again from an underground tuber (like a small potato).
The plant has one upright, hairy leaf. This leaf is usually about 10 to 20 centimeters (4-8 inches) long. It is also about 0.6 to 1 centimeter (0.2-0.4 inches) wide.
Up to three flowers grow on a stem that is 10 to 18 centimeters (4-7 inches) tall. These flowers are mostly white. They can be 10 to 18 centimeters (4-7 inches) long and 5 to 6 centimeters (2-2.4 inches) wide.
Flower Parts
The sepals and petals of the flower have long, brown, thread-like tips. These tips usually droop downwards.
- The top sepal, called the dorsal sepal, curves forward. It is about 5 to 14 centimeters (2-5.5 inches) long and 0.3 centimeters (0.1 inches) wide.
- The two side sepals, called lateral sepals, curve downwards. They are about 4.5 to 9 centimeters (1.8-3.5 inches) long and 0.4 to 0.5 centimeters (0.16-0.2 inches) wide.
- The petals are arranged like the side sepals. They are 3.5 to 8 centimeters (1.4-3.1 inches) long and 0.3 to 0.4 centimeters (0.1-0.16 inches) wide.
The labellum is a special lip-like part of the orchid flower. It is 1.5 to 2 centimeters (0.6-0.8 inches) long and 0.8 to 1 centimeter (0.3-0.4 inches) wide. The labellum is white or cream-colored. Its sides curve upwards. It has upright teeth up to 0.6 centimeters (0.2 inches) long on its sides. The tip of the labellum curves downwards. There are four or more rows of pink calli (small bumps) along the center of the labellum.
When Does it Flower?
This orchid flowers from November to early December. It looks a lot like another subspecies, pholcoidea. However, the Augustus spider orchid has shorter side sepals and petals. Its flowers are also whiter, and it blooms a bit earlier in the year.
How Was it Named?
The Augustus spider orchid was first officially described in 2001. This was done by two botanists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown. They published their description in a scientific journal called Nuytsia.
At the same time, they described two different types, or subspecies, of this orchid. One of these was subspecies augustensis. The name augustensis comes from the town of Augusta. This is because the only known group of these orchids grows near Augusta.
Where Does it Live?
The only known group of Augustus spider orchids grows near Augusta, Western Australia. It likes to grow under thick Melaleuca shrubs. These are small trees or bushes. It prefers areas that get wet during the winter.
Why is it Important to Protect This Orchid?
The Augustus spider orchid is classified as "Priority One" by the Department of Parks and Wildlife. This means it is very rare. It is known to exist in only one or a very few places. These places are potentially at risk, which means the orchid needs special protection to survive.
