Bow-lip spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bow-lip spider orchid |
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| Caladenia toxochila growing near the Little Desert National Park | |
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Caladenia
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| Species: |
toxochila
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The Bow-lip spider orchid (scientific name: Caladenia toxochila) is a special plant. It belongs to the amazing orchid family. You can only find this orchid in south-eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid, meaning it grows from the soil.
This orchid has a single, slightly hairy leaf. Its flowers are a mix of yellowish-green with cool red stripes. They look a bit like spiders, which is how they got their common name! You can find this unique orchid growing in Victoria and South Australia. It looks similar to a related orchid called Caladenia concinna, which grows in New South Wales.
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What Does the Bow-lip Spider Orchid Look Like?
The Bow-lip spider orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It lives for many years. It has a special underground part called a tuber, which stores food. It also has one leaf that is a bit hairy. This leaf can be 5 to 12 centimeters long and 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide.
Each plant usually has one or two flowers. These flowers grow on a stem that can be 8 to 20 centimeters tall. The flowers themselves are about 1.5 to 2 centimeters wide.
The main parts of the flower, called the sepals and petals, are yellowish-green. They each have a red stripe down the middle. The sepals have thin, club-like tips that are 1 to 7 millimeters long. The top sepal curves forward. The two side sepals point downwards, almost touching the flower's base. The petals also turn downwards.
The most interesting part is the labellum, or "lip," of the flower. It is pale green and about 1 to 1.2 centimeters long and wide. The tip of the labellum is dark red and curls under. The sides of the labellum have many small, rounded "teeth" that are up to 1 millimeter long. Along the middle of the labellum, there are four rows of crowded, fleshy, blackish, club-shaped bumps called calli. These calli are also up to 1 millimeter long.
This orchid usually blooms in August and September.
The Bow-lip spider orchid looks a lot like Caladenia concinna from New South Wales. However, the Bow-lip spider orchid has darker flowers. It also has shorter teeth on its labellum and fewer rows of calli.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Bow-lip spider orchid was first officially described in 1889 by a scientist named Ralph Tate. He published his description in a scientific paper.
The scientific name, toxochila, comes from two ancient Greek words. The word toxon means "bow," and cheilos means "lip." This name was chosen because the labellum (or lip) of this orchid is shaped like a bow.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the Bow-lip spider orchid in different scattered areas. It grows in western Victoria and in the south-eastern part of South Australia. It likes to live in woodlands and areas with mallee trees. It often grows among grasses and shrubs.
Is It in Danger?
Yes, the Bow-lip spider orchid is considered "vulnerable" in Victoria. This means that its numbers are decreasing, and it could become endangered if we don't protect it. It is listed as vulnerable under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
