Caladenia atrochila facts for kids

The Caladenia atrochila, also known as the Black-Lip Spider Orchid, is a unique plant that belongs to the orchid family. This special orchid only grows in Tasmania, which means it is endemic (found nowhere else in the world!). It's a ground orchid, meaning it grows in the soil, and has one fuzzy leaf. Its flowers are usually whitish or pinkish on the front, but yellowish-green on the back. They also have a creamy "lip" (called a labellum) with cool dark red patterns.

What Does the Black-Lip Spider Orchid Look Like?

The Black-Lip Spider Orchid is a herb, which means it's a plant with soft stems, not woody ones like a tree. It's also a perennial plant, so it lives for more than two years. It grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato) and can be found alone or in small groups. Each plant has one long, thin, dull green leaf that is a bit hairy. This leaf is about 5 to 12 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) long and less than 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) wide.

The orchid usually has one or two flowers on a sturdy, hairy stem that stands about 6 to 16 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) tall. Each flower is about 12 to 16 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) wide.

• The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, stands straight up. It's about 8 to 11 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and shaped like a narrow egg.
• The side parts of the flower, called the lateral sepals and petals, are shaped like spears. They are 7 to 13 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long. These parts are whitish or pinkish on the front and yellowish-green on the back.
• The "lip" of the flower, or labellum, is cream-colored with dark red lines. It's about 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 7 millimeters (0.3 inches) wide. This lip has three main parts, or lobes. The side lobes stand up and partly cover the central part of the flower, called the column. The middle lobe is a small, narrow triangle with two to four pairs of tiny teeth along its edges.
• In the center of the labellum, there are two rows of yellow bumps called calli. These calli have dark red stalks.
• The column (the central part of the flower that holds the reproductive organs) is 6 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and curves forward.

These orchids usually flower in November. However, their flowers only stay open for a day or two before they self-pollinate (meaning they pollinate themselves).

How Did It Get Its Name?

The Black-Lip Spider Orchid was officially described for the first time in 1998 by a botanist named David Jones. He published his description in a scientific paper called Australian Orchid Research. The first plant specimen used for this description was found near the Arthur River in an area called Callaghans Scrub.

The scientific name atrochila comes from two old words:

• The Latin word ater, which means "black".
• The Ancient Greek word cheilos, which means "lip".

This name refers to the dark lines found on the orchid's labellum, or "lip."

Where Does It Grow?

This special orchid is only found in thick forests located along the coast and in areas close to the coast in western Tasmania.