Fringed mantis orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fringed mantis orchid |
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| Caladenia falcata in Wandoo National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
falcata
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis falcata (Nicholls) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Caladenia falcata, commonly called the fringed mantis orchid, is a type of orchid found only in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a fairly common orchid in its natural areas. This plant has a single, hairy leaf. It also grows one or two flowers that are green, yellow, and red. These flowers have petals that spread out and sepals that curve upwards.
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What the Fringed Mantis Orchid Looks Like
The Fringed mantis orchid has one straight, hairy leaf. This leaf is about 10 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches) long and 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) wide.
One or two flowers grow on a stalk that is about 20 to 40 centimeters (8 to 16 inches) tall. Each flower is about 6 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long and 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) wide. The flowers are greenish-yellow with noticeable maroon (dark reddish-purple) marks.
The top sepal (part of the flower that looks like a petal) stands straight up. It is about 4.5 to 8 centimeters (1.8 to 3.1 inches) long. The side sepals and petals have brownish, bumpy tips. The side sepals are about 3.5 to 7.5 centimeters (1.4 to 3 inches) long. They grow close together and curve strongly upwards. The petals are about 3.5 to 5.5 centimeters (1.4 to 2.2 inches) long. They spread out wide and curve downwards.
The labellum (the special lip-like petal) is about 1.5 to 2.4 centimeters (0.6 to 0.9 inches) long and 2 to 3 centimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) wide. It is yellowish-green with a maroon-colored tip that curves underneath. Along the sides of the labellum, there are pointed, comb-like teeth up to 0.8 centimeters (0.3 inches) long. In the middle, there are four or more rows of maroon bumps called calli. These bumps are packed closely together and are up to 0.4 centimeters (0.2 inches) long.
This orchid usually blooms from late August to October.
How the Fringed Mantis Orchid Got Its Name
This orchid was first officially described in 1948 by a person named William Nicholls. He found a sample of it near Kojonup. Nicholls first named it Caladenia dilatata var. falcata. He wrote about it in a science journal called The Victorian Naturalist.
Later, in 1989, two other botanists, Mark Clements and Andrew Brown, decided it was unique enough to be its own species. So, they gave it the name Caladenia falcata. The second part of its name, falcata, comes from a Latin word. It means "sickle-shaped" or "hooked." This name refers to how the side sepals of the flower curve upwards, looking a bit like a hook or a sickle.
Where the Fringed Mantis Orchid Lives
The Fringed mantis orchid grows in an area between Wongan Hills and Jerramungup in Western Australia. You can find it in different types of natural areas. These include woodlands, shrublands (areas with many bushes), or close to large granite rocks.
Protecting the Fringed Mantis Orchid
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the Fringed mantis orchid. They have officially said that this orchid is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
