Caladenia bicalliata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caladenia bicalliata |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
bicalliata
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Caladenia bicalliata, also known as the two-clawed spider orchid, is a type of orchid. It grows naturally in the south-west of Western Australia and along the coast of South Australia. This orchid has one upright, hairy leaf. It also grows one or two cream-colored flowers. There are two slightly different types, called subspecies, which have flowers of different sizes and colors.
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What Does the Orchid Look Like?
Caladenia bicalliata is a land plant. It is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It loses its leaves each year. This plant grows from an underground tuber. It has one upright, hairy leaf. This leaf is about 6 to 20 cm (2 to 8 inches) long. It is also about 2 to 5 mm (0.08 to 0.2 inches) wide.
Flower Structure and Appearance
The flowers grow on a stem called an inflorescence. This stem is a type of raceme. It can be 20 to 35 cm (8 to 14 inches) tall. Each stem can have up to three flowers. Each flower is about 25 to 70 mm (1 to 3 inches) long. They are also 10 to 40 mm (0.4 to 2 inches) wide.
The top part of the flower is called the dorsal sepal. It stands upright. It gets narrow about one-third of the way up from its base. The side sepals and the petals are cream or greenish-cream. They are shorter than those of similar orchids. These include C. abbreviata and C. evanescens. The tips of the dorsal sepals and petals can be reddish-brown or pale yellow. This depends on the specific type of orchid.
The Labellum and Flowering Time
The special lip-like petal is called the labellum. It is white. Sometimes it has red stripes. It has two rows of white bumps, called calli, down its middle. These orchids usually flower between August and early October. However, their flowers only stay open for a day or two. Sometimes, they might not open at all.
How Was This Orchid Named?
The scientific name for this orchid, Caladenia bicalliata, was first officially described. This happened in 1909. The person who described it was Richard Rogers. He found a sample of the orchid in Kingscote. This town is on Kangaroo Island. The description was published in a scientific journal. It was called Transactions, proceedings and report, Royal Society of South Australia.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of the name, bicalliata, tells us something special. It refers to the two rows of calli (bumps) on the labellum of this orchid. The word "bi" means two. "Calli" refers to these bumps.
Different Types of This Orchid
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Caladenia bicalliata:
Where Does This Orchid Grow?
This spider orchid grows in a narrow strip along the coast. It prefers to grow in calcareous soil. This type of soil contains a lot of calcium. You can find it between Kalbarri and Esperance in Western Australia. It also grows along the south-east coast of South Australia. Sometimes, it can be found up to 100 km (60 miles) inland in South Australia.
Is This Orchid Protected?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Caladenia bicalliata. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
