Moora spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moora spider orchid |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Caladenia |
| Species: |
C. exilis
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| Subspecies: |
C. e. subsp. vanleeuwenii
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| Trinomial name | |
| Caladenia exilis subsp. vanleeuwenii Hopper & A.P.Br.
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The Moora spider orchid (Caladenia exilis subsp. vanleeuwenii) is a special type of plant. It belongs to the orchid family and grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This orchid is quite rare. It has one tall, hairy leaf and usually up to three flowers. These flowers can be different colors. They also have a small, white labellum (a special lip petal) with red stripes. This orchid is different from other similar orchids because of its varied flower colors, how it grows, when it flowers, and where it lives.
What it Looks Like
The Moora spider orchid is a ground-dwelling plant. It is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It also loses its leaves each year (it's deciduous). This plant grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root. It can grow by itself or in small groups.
Each plant has one upright, hairy leaf. This leaf is about 6 to 12 centimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) long and 3 to 5 millimeters (0.12 to 0.20 inches) wide. The plant produces a flower stem that is about 14 to 25 centimeters (5.5 to 9.8 inches) tall. On this stem, there are usually up to three flowers. Each flower is about 6 to 12 centimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) long and 4 to 6 centimeters (1.6 to 2.4 inches) wide.
The flowers can be white, red, pale yellow, or cream-colored. The top petal, called the dorsal sepal, stands straight up. It is 5 to 9 centimeters (2.0 to 3.5 inches) long and about 2 millimeters (0.079 inches) wide. It gets thinner towards the end, forming a dark, thread-like tip. The side petals and sepals hang downwards. They also have long, dark, thread-like tips. The side sepals are less than 5 to 9 centimeters long and about 3 millimeters wide at their base. The petals are 5 to 7 centimeters (2.0 to 2.8 inches) long and about 2 millimeters wide at their base.
The labellum (the orchid's special lip) is 8 to 12 millimeters (0.31 to 0.47 inches) long and 5 to 7 millimeters (0.20 to 0.28 inches) wide. It is white or cream-colored with red lines and spots. The edges of the labellum have small, forward-pointing teeth. There are also two rows of red to cream-colored calli (small bumps) along its center. These orchids usually flower from June to August.
How it was Named
The Moora spider orchid was officially described in 2001. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown, gave it its scientific name. They published their description in a scientific journal called Nuytsia.
The second part of its scientific name, vanleeuwenii, honors Steven van Leeuwen. He is an Australian research scientist. He was the first person to realize that this orchid was a unique and different type of plant.
Where it Lives
The Moora spider orchid grows in a specific area of Western Australia. You can find it between the towns of Watheroo and Wongan Hills. This area is part of the Avon Wheatbelt and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions. It prefers to grow in forests where York gum and salmon gum trees are common. These forests are usually wet during the winter months.
Looking After it
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the Moora spider orchid. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these orchids, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
