Caladenia clavescens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caladenia clavescens |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
clavescens
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis clavescens D.L.Jones |
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Caladenia clavescens is a special kind of orchid that grows only in central Victoria, Australia. It's a ground orchid, meaning it grows in the soil, and it has a single fuzzy leaf. Usually, it has one beautiful dark red or maroon flower.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
Caladenia clavescens is a plant that lives on the ground. It's a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant is a herb with a special underground part called a tuber, which stores food.
It has one leaf that is about 8 to 14 centimeters (about 3 to 5.5 inches) long and 6 to 12 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.5 inches) wide. The plant usually grows one flower, but sometimes two, on a stem that is about 20 to 35 centimeters (about 8 to 14 inches) tall.
Flower Details
The flowers are usually dark red to maroon. Sometimes, they can be cream-colored or pinkish. The petals and sepals (parts of the flower that look like petals) are about 3.5 to 6.5 centimeters (about 1.4 to 2.6 inches) long.
The sepals are about 3 to 4 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. They are flat near the bottom but become very thin and thread-like at the tip. These tips are covered with tiny glands. The petals are similar but a bit shorter.
The labellum is a special lip-like part of the orchid flower. It curves forward and its tip is rolled under. It's shaped like a spear or an egg, and it's dark purplish. It measures about 14 to 18 millimeters (about 0.5 to 0.7 inches) long and 8 to 11 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide.
The sides of the labellum have a fringe of thin teeth, almost 2 millimeters long. These teeth get shorter towards the tip. There are also four to six rows of foot-shaped bumps called calli along the center of the labellum. These calli are about 2 millimeters long near the base and also get shorter towards the tip. This orchid blooms from September to October.
How It Got Its Name
This orchid was first officially described in 2006 by a botanist named David L. Jones. He named it Arachnorchis clavescens. The description was published in a research paper called Australian Orchid Research. The first plant used to describe the species (called the type specimen) was found near Castlemaine.
In 2007, another botanist, Gary Backhouse, changed its name to Caladenia clavescens. The second part of its name, "clavescens," comes from two Latin words: clava, meaning "club," and the suffix -escens, meaning "becoming." This name refers to the tips of the sepals and petals, which often look a bit like clubs.
Where Does It Live?
Caladenia clavescens grows in central Victoria, Australia. You can find it near towns like Campbells Creek, Castlemaine, and Chewton. It prefers certain types of habitats in these areas.
Is It Protected?
Yes, this spider orchid is considered "vulnerable." This means it's at risk of disappearing if we don't protect it. It is protected by a law called the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. This law helps make sure that special plants and animals in Victoria are kept safe.
