Cowslip orchid facts for kids
Caladenia flava, also known as the cowslip orchid, is a beautiful type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This orchid is quite common. It has a single, fuzzy leaf and usually grows up to three yellow flowers. These flowers often have pretty red marks on them. In 2001, scientists named three different types, or subspecies, of this orchid. They also know about a fourth type, but it hasn't been officially named yet.
Quick facts for kids Cowslip orchid |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
|
| Species: |
flava
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Caladeniastrum flavum (R.Br.) Szlach. |
|
What it Looks Like
The cowslip orchid is a plant that lives for many years. It grows from special stems hidden underground. Its leaf and flower stalk grow out from these stems. You can see its yellow flowers from July to December.
The leaf is long for the size of the plant. It gets narrower towards the end. The flowers grow on a long stalk. There are usually two to five flowers. They are mostly yellow, but sometimes they can be pinkish or white. They often have small magenta spots.
The sepals and petals of the flower are wide but also long. They get thinner towards a point and are narrow at the bottom. The side sepals can be over 2–3 mm long. The top sepal is smaller and has a reddish line or spots down its middle.
The flower has a special part called a labellum (or lip) that is over 5 mm long. It has a small claw-shaped part. The labellum has three nearly separate sections. The side sections are oval-shaped. The middle section is longer and a bit wider. It has several long structures called calli on each side. These calli are in two rows, almost forming a half-circle. The flower also has a column structure, which has wing-like parts from its base.
How it Was Named
The Caladenia flava was first officially named in 1810. This was done by a scientist named Robert Brown. He wrote about it in his book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen. He used a plant sample collected by Archibald Menzies a long time ago.
In 2001, two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown, described three different types, or subspecies, of Caladenia flava:
- Caladenia flava subsp. flava is the most common and found in many places. Its flowers are golden-yellow, creamy-yellow, or white. They often have red marks. This type has four to six small teeth on its labellum.
- Caladenia flava subsp. maculata has lemon-yellow flowers with brownish or red blotches. It has eight to sixteen teeth on its labellum. This type is mostly found north of Geraldton and is known as the Kalbarri cowslip orchid.
- Caladenia flava subsp. sylvestris has pale yellow and cream-colored flowers. The tips of its sepals and petals are white. It has red marks and four to six teeth on its labellum. This type grows between Bunbury and Albany. It is known as the karri cowslip orchid.
There is also a fourth type, called 'late red'. Scientists know about it, but it hasn't been officially named yet. This type is rare. It has a very large leaf and clear red marks on all its sepals and petals. It grows between Beverley and Williams. People call it the Brookton Highway cowslip orchid.
Where it Grows
The cowslip orchid is common in the Southwest region of Western Australia. It can grow in many different types of soil, including laterite and granite. You often find it near burnt trees, especially marri trees. It also grows in areas that are wet in winter, in forests, along the coast in woodlands, and on granite rock formations. You can find it throughout the Southwest and Eremaean plant regions.
See also
In Spanish: Caladenia flava para niños
