Fairy orchid facts for kids
The fairy orchid (Caladenia alata) is a special type of plant. It belongs to the orchid family, which is known for its beautiful and unique flowers. You can find this delicate orchid growing in south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. It's called a "fairy orchid" because its flowers are small and often don't last very long. They have petals and sepals that stand up a bit stiffly. Look closely, and you'll see reddish-purple stripes on its labellum, which is the orchid's special lip-like petal.
Quick facts for kids Fairy orchid |
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| Caladenia alata growing near Pambula | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
alata
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Contents
What Does the Fairy Orchid Look Like?
The Caladenia alata is a ground plant. This means it grows in the soil, not on other plants or trees. It is a perennial, so it lives for more than two years. It is also a deciduous herb, which means its leaves die back in some seasons, but the plant itself stays alive underground.
Usually, you will find one fairy orchid growing alone. Sometimes, though, you might see groups of up to twenty plants together. This orchid has a special part called a tuber that grows underground. It also has one long, thin leaf. This leaf is a bit hairy and can be dark green or reddish-green. It grows to be about 3 to 13 centimeters (1 to 5 inches) long and 1 to 3 millimeters (0.04 to 0.12 inches) wide.
The Fairy Orchid's Flowers
The fairy orchid produces one or two flowers. These flowers are small, usually about 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) across. They grow on a thin, wiry stem that can be 8 to 24 centimeters (3 to 9 inches) tall. The flowers do not last very long.
The top part of the flower is called the sepal. It stands straight up and is narrow. The side sepals and the petals are about 3 to 11 millimeters (0.1 to 0.4 inches) long. They can be white or pink. They are shaped a bit like an egg, but not perfectly even, and their tips are slightly curved.
The labellum is a special lip-like petal. When flattened, it is about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.20 to 0.24 inches) long. It has three parts, or lobes. The labellum is white or pink with purple stripes. Its tip is yellow and curves downwards. The side lobes are big and wide with smooth edges. In the middle of the labellum, there are two rows of yellow, club-shaped structures called calli. These calli look like they are on stalks.
Fairy orchids usually bloom, or flower, between August and October.
How the Fairy Orchid Got Its Name
The fairy orchid, Caladenia alata, was first officially described in 1810. A botanist named Robert Brown wrote about it in his book, Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.
The second part of its scientific name, alata, is a Latin word. It means "winged." This name likely refers to a feature of the orchid that reminded people of wings.
Where Fairy Orchids Grow
The fairy orchid grows in forests and woodlands. It likes places that are moist, or a bit wet. You can often find it in rocky areas that are steep. It also grows in swamps and near the edges of lakes. In New Zealand, it sometimes even grows around hot springs!
It can be a bit hard to know exactly where all the fairy orchids are. This is because their flowers are small and do not last long. However, they have been seen in several places. These include south-east Queensland and the coast and tablelands of New South Wales. They also grow in areas near the coast of Victoria, east of Wilsons Promontory, and in Tasmania. In New Zealand, you will only find them on the North Island, mostly between Te Paki and Rotorua.
