Black-tongue caladenia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-tongue caladenia |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Caladenia
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| Species: |
congesta
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The Caladenia congesta, also known as the black-tongue caladenia, is a fascinating plant. It belongs to the orchid family and is found only in Australia. This means it is "endemic" to Australia.
This special orchid grows from the ground. It has a single leaf that is a bit hairy. Its flowers are a beautiful bright pink, and it can have up to three of them. A unique part of the flower, called the labellum, is completely covered with black bumps. These bumps make it look like a black tongue! You can find this orchid in many places across Australia, but it's not very common anywhere.
Contents
What Does the Black-tongue Caladenia Look Like?
The black-tongue caladenia is a plant that grows from the ground. It has an underground storage part called a tuber. This plant is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so some parts might fall off during certain seasons.
Leaves and Flowers
Each plant has one long, thin leaf. This leaf is about 8 to 18 centimeters (3 to 7 inches) long. It is also about 2 to 6 millimeters (0.08 to 0.24 inches) wide and has a few hairs.
The plant grows a tall stem, usually 15 to 60 centimeters (6 to 24 inches) high. This stem holds up to three bright pink flowers. The sepals and petals of the flower are shaped like spears. They spread out and are about 16 to 20 millimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long. The back of these parts has tiny, dark red hairs.
The Labellum: A Special Feature
The labellum is a very important part of the orchid flower. For the black-tongue caladenia, it is about 8 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. It is also about 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. The labellum has three main sections, called lobes.
The middle lobe is covered with two rows of shiny, dark crimson to black bumps. These bumps are called calli, and they give the orchid its "black-tongue" name. The side lobes of the labellum are pink and stand upright or spread out slightly. You can see these orchids flowering from October to January.
How Did the Black-tongue Caladenia Get Its Name?
The scientific name for this orchid, Caladenia congesta, was first officially written down in 1810. This was done by a botanist named Robert Brown. He published his description in a book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.
The second part of its scientific name, congesta, comes from a Latin word. This word means "dense," "heaped up," or "thick." This likely refers to the way the black bumps are packed together on the labellum.
Where Does the Black-tongue Caladenia Live?
The black-tongue caladenia grows in many different places. You can find it in forests and even in areas with low-growing plants called heathlands. It prefers sandy or clay soils.
This orchid grows south of Wellington in New South Wales. It is also found in Victoria, in northern Tasmania, and in the very south-east part of South Australia. Even though it grows in many areas, it is not common in any one spot.
Is the Black-tongue Caladenia Protected?
Yes, the black-tongue caladenia needs protection. In Tasmania, it is listed as "Endangered." This means there are very few of these orchids left in Tasmania, and they are at high risk of disappearing. This protection is under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.
