Caladenia bartlettii facts for kids

Caladenia bartlettii is a special kind of orchid plant. It grows only in New Zealand. This ground orchid has a single, narrow, hairy leaf. It also has a thin stem that usually holds one beautiful flower. The flower is often mauve or pink and doesn't last very long.

What Does Caladenia bartlettii Look Like?

Caladenia bartlettii is a plant that grows from the ground. It's a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years and its leaves die back each year. It can grow alone or in groups of up to ten plants. This orchid has a special underground part called a tuber. It also has one hairy, narrow leaf. This leaf can be up to 10 cm (4 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. It often looks dark purplish or reddish-green.

The Flowers of This Orchid

Usually, one flower grows on a thin, slightly hairy stem. This stem can be up to 30 cm (10 in) tall. Sometimes, two flowers can appear. Each flower can be up to 20 mm (0.8 in) across. The parts of the flower, called sepals and petals, are a dark magenta color. This color fades to white closer to the bottom.

The top sepal stands straight up. The side sepals are oval-shaped with a rounded end. They are a bit bigger than the petals. The special lower petal, called the labellum, has three parts. It has red stripes. The middle part of the labellum is shaped like a triangle. It curls under and is dark yellow with a wavy edge. There are also two rows of bright yellow tips, called calli, along the middle of the labellum.

This orchid flowers from October to December. Its flowers are self-pollinating, meaning they can pollinate themselves. They only stay open for a few days.

How Was Caladenia bartlettii Named?

This orchid was first officially described in 1949 by Edwin Hatch. He first called it a type of Caladenia carnea. This description was published in a science journal. In 1997, its name was changed to Caladenia bartlettii. The second part of its name, bartlettii, honors Francis (Frank) William Bartlett. He was a person who knew a lot about the plants in the gumlands of New Zealand.

Where Does Caladenia bartlettii Live?

This type of caladenia orchid likes to grow in shady spots. It prefers poor soil. You will always find it in forests where kauri trees are common. It grows on both the North and South Island of New Zealand.

Is Caladenia bartlettii Protected?

In 2012, Caladenia bartlettii was classified as "At Risk - Naturally Uncommon." This means it's not very common in nature. It's important to protect its habitats to help it survive.