Elegant caladenia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elegant caladenia |
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| Caladenia cracens growing near Calverts Lagoon | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
cracens
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| Synonyms | |
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Stegostyla cracens (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The elegant caladenia (scientific name: Caladenia cracens) is a beautiful plant. It belongs to the orchid family. This special orchid grows only in Tasmania, Australia. It's a ground orchid, meaning it grows in the soil. It has one thin, slightly hairy leaf. It also has a single flower that can be pale pink, dark pink, or purple. This flower grows on a thin stem, about 5 to 18 centimeters (2 to 7 inches) tall.
What it Looks Like
The elegant caladenia is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. It is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous plant, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This orchid usually grows by itself or in small groups.
It has one long, thin leaf. This leaf is about 5 to 12 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) long. It is also very narrow, only about 1 to 3 millimeters (0.04 to 0.1 inches) wide. The leaf has a few hairs on it.
The Flower
Each plant grows a single, sweet-smelling flower. The flower is about 20 to 25 millimeters (0.8 to 1 inch) wide. It sits on a thin, strong stem that is 8 to 15 centimeters (3 to 6 inches) tall.
The top part of the flower is called the sepal. It looks like an egg and forms a hood over the flower's center. This sepal is about 8 to 12 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long. The side sepals and petals are shaped like spears. They are 8 to 13 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long. These parts are usually pale to dark pink.
The front of the sepals and petals is smooth. But the back is covered with tiny glandular hairs. They spread out from the center of the flower.
The labellum is the special lip-like part of the orchid. It has three parts and curves forward. It is about 7 to 8 millimeters (0.28 to 0.31 inches) long. The edges of the labellum have 5 to 8 pairs of small, tooth-like parts. In the middle, there are 2 to 4 rows of thin, cream or yellow bumps called calli.
The side parts of the labellum stand up. They partly surround the column, which is the central part of the flower. The column is about 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. It is green or whitish with red marks.
Elegant caladenia flowers bloom between late September and early November. After flowering, the plant produces a papery seed pod called a capsule.
How it Got its Name
The elegant caladenia was first officially described in 1996. A botanist named David L. Jones gave it its scientific name, Caladenia cracens. He wrote about it in a science journal called Muelleria. The plant he studied was found in Lenah Valley, near Hobart.
The word cracens comes from Latin. It means "neat" or "graceful." This name fits the orchid well because it is a very graceful species.
Where it Lives
The elegant caladenia is found all over southern Tasmania. It likes to grow in woodlands and forests. Sometimes, it can also be found in heathlands, which are open areas with small shrubs.
