Charming spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charming spider orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
amoena
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The charming spider orchid (scientific name: Caladenia amoena) is a special kind of plant. It belongs to the orchid family, called Orchidaceae. This beautiful orchid is found only in Victoria, Australia. It grows from the ground, either by itself or in small groups. Each plant has a single dark green, hairy leaf. It also has one yellowish-green flower with pretty red stripes. Because there are only a few of these orchids left, it is considered an endangered species.
Contents
What the Charming Spider Orchid Looks Like
The charming spider orchid is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous plant, which means its leaves fall off at certain times. It grows from an underground part called a tuber, which is like a small storage organ. It has one leaf that is covered in dense hairs and shaped like a spear. This leaf is usually 3 to 8 centimetres (about 1 to 3 inches) long and 7 to 9 millimetres (about 0.3 inches) wide. Sometimes, it has purplish spots near its base.
Usually, there is one flower on a stem that grows 5 to 12 centimetres (about 2 to 5 inches) tall. The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, stands straight up. It is thin and narrow, about 20 to 25 millimetres (about 0.8 to 1 inch) long. The end of this sepal has a small, round part called a gland, which is about 2 millimetres long.
The side parts, called the lateral sepals, are 17 to 23 millimetres (about 0.7 to 0.9 inches) long. They also have a gland at their tips, similar to the top sepal. The petals are 15 to 18 millimetres (about 0.6 to 0.7 inches) long and become narrower at their ends.
The most interesting part is the labellum, which is the orchid's special lip. It is heart-shaped and curves forward. When flattened, it's about 9 to 12 millimetres (about 0.4 to 0.5 inches) long and 8 to 11 millimetres (about 0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. The labellum has three yellowish-green sections, with the middle part being reddish. The middle section has about 7 pairs of wide teeth. The side sections also have teeth near the middle.
There are four rows of reddish bumps on the labellum, called calli. These calli are about 3 millimetres long at the back and get smaller towards the front. The central part of the flower, called the column, is 8 to 9 millimetres (about 0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and has reddish marks. These orchids bloom from August to October.
The charming spider orchid looks a bit like another orchid called C. concinna. However, the charming spider orchid has smaller flowers and its petals and sepals hang down a little.
How it Got its Name
The Science of Naming Plants
The charming spider orchid was first officially described by a botanist named David L. Jones in 1994. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He published his description in a scientific journal called Muelleria.
The second part of its scientific name, amoena, comes from a Latin word. It means "pleasant" or "delightful." This name perfectly describes this lovely orchid!
Where it Lives
The charming spider orchid is very rare. It is only found in two places in south-central Victoria, Australia. It grows in grassy box–ironbark forests. These forests are located on the northern edge of Melbourne.
Why it Needs Our Help
Protecting Endangered Orchids
The charming spider orchid is an "Endangered" species. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. In the year 2000, only 45 charming spider orchid plants were known to exist.
Both the Victorian government and the Australian Government have classified it as "Endangered." The Australian Government uses a law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to protect species like this. A special plan has been created to help this orchid recover and survive.
