Caladenia douglasiorum facts for kids
Caladenia douglasiorum is a special type of orchid plant. It belongs to the orchid family, called Orchidaceae. This plant is only found in central Victoria, Australia. This means it's endemic there, which is like saying it's a local celebrity plant! It grows on the ground and has one fuzzy leaf. Its flower is usually greenish-cream or yellowish, with pretty red marks.
Quick facts for kids Caladenia douglasiorum |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
douglasiorum
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis douglasiorum D.L.Jones |
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What it Looks Like
Caladenia douglasiorum is a plant that grows from an underground part called a tuber. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It also loses its leaves in some seasons, which is called being deciduous.
It has one leaf that is about 6 to 11 centimeters (2.4 to 4.3 inches) long. This leaf is also about 0.5 to 0.8 centimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
The plant usually grows one flower on a stem that can be 10 to 25 centimeters (3.9 to 9.8 inches) tall. The flower is greenish-cream or yellowish. It often has cool red stripes.
The flower has parts called sepals and petals. The sepals often have dark red or black tips that look like clubs. These tips are about 0.6 to 1 centimeter (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long.
The top sepal stands straight up. The two side sepals spread out wide and their tips hang down. The petals are similar in size to the sepals. They sometimes have shorter club-like tips.
The most interesting part is the labellum, which is a special lip-like petal. It is cream-colored with red marks. The labellum has small, narrow teeth along its sides. Its tip curls under. There are also four rows of tiny, foot-shaped bumps called calli in the center.
This orchid usually blooms from September to October.
How it Got its Name
This special orchid was first officially described in 2006. A scientist named David L. Jones gave it the name Arachnorchis douglasiorum. This description was published in a research paper called Australian Orchid Research.
Later, in 2007, another scientist named Gary Backhouse changed its name to Caladenia douglasiorum. The second part of its name, douglasiorum, is a way to honor the Douglas family. This family, including John, Debra, and Kate Douglas, owns the land where this orchid grows.
Where it Lives
Caladenia douglasiorum is very rare! It is only known to live in one small area. This area is on private property in the western goldfields region of Victoria. It likes to grow in open forests there.
Protecting This Orchid
Because this spider orchid is so rare, it is listed as "endangered." This means it is at a high risk of disappearing forever. It is protected by a special law called the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. This law helps make sure people protect plants and animals that are in danger.
