Fitzgerald's spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fitzgerald's spider orchid |
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| Caladenia fitzgeraldii at Brindabella | |
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Caladenia
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fitzgeraldii
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Fitzgerald's spider orchid (its scientific name is Caladenia fitzgeraldii) is a special kind of plant. It belongs to the amazing Orchid family. This orchid is found only in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia. This means it is endemic to these areas.
It's a ground orchid, which means it grows in the soil. It has one fuzzy leaf and usually just one flower. This flower is a mix of greenish-yellow and red colors.
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What Does It Look Like?
Fitzgerald's spider orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It's a perennial plant, so it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous herb, meaning its leaves might fall off at certain times.
Its Leaf
The plant has a single leaf that feels hairy. This leaf is shaped like a line or a spear. It can be about 8 to 15 centimeters (3 to 6 inches) long. It is also about 8 to 12 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) wide.
Its Flower
The orchid usually has one yellowish-green flower with red marks. This flower grows on a tall stem called a spike. The spike can be about 12 to 25 centimeters (5 to 10 inches) tall. The flower itself is about 3.5 to 5 centimeters (1.4 to 2 inches) wide.
The top part of the flower is called the dorsal sepal. It stands up straight but bends forward. It's about 3 to 4.5 centimeters (1.2 to 1.8 inches) long. The side parts (lateral sepals) and the petals spread out wide. They point downwards and have special tips that are at least 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) long.
The lateral sepals are about 3.5 to 5.5 centimeters (1.4 to 2.2 inches) long. The petals are a bit shorter, about 2.5 to 4 centimeters (1 to 1.6 inches) long.
The Labellum
The most interesting part of the flower is the labellum. This is a special lip-like petal. It's shaped like an egg and is about 1.3 to 1.7 centimeters (0.5 to 0.7 inches) long. It's also about 0.8 to 1.1 centimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide.
The labellum is yellowish near its base and turns red or maroon towards its tip. Along its edges, it has 8 to 12 pairs of small, tooth-like parts. These "teeth" are about 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) long. In the center of the labellum, there are four rows of red, golf-club-shaped bumps. These are called calli.
Fitzgerald's spider orchid blooms from August to November.
How It Got Its Name
The scientific name Caladenia fitzgeraldii was first officially described in 1942. This was done by a person named Herman Rupp. He wrote about it in a publication called Australian Orchid Review.
Where It Lives
You can find Fitzgerald's spider orchid growing in forests. It prefers rocky soil. It lives in the Australian Capital Territory and also in the Wellington and Bathurst areas of New South Wales.
