Fragrant china orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fragrant china orchid |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
fragrans
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| Synonyms | |
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Cyanicula fragrans Hopper & A.P.Br. |
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The fragrant china orchid (scientific name: Caladenia fragrans) is a special type of orchid plant. It grows only in Western Australia. This orchid is quite similar to other china orchids, like C. ashbyae. However, you can tell it apart because its leaf is a lighter green. Plus, its flowers smell like vanilla, and it grows further north than some other similar orchids.
What it Looks Like
The fragrant china orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times. This plant has a special underground tuber, which is like a storage part.
It usually has one flat leaf. This leaf is about 2 to 4 centimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) long. It's also about 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide. The leaf is a pale green color and has tiny, stiff hairs on it.
Flowers
This orchid usually has one or two flowers. They are a pretty bluish-mauve or blue color. Sometimes, they can even be white. Each flower is about 2 to 4 centimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) long and wide. The flowers grow on a stem that is about 6 to 12 centimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) tall.
The top part of the flower is called the sepal. It stands straight up and is about 1.2 to 2.2 centimeters (0.5 to 0.9 inches) long. The side sepals and petals are about the same size. The labellum is the special lip-like part of the orchid flower. It is mostly flat and bluish-white. It's about 0.6 to 0.8 centimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. The tip of the labellum points downwards. Many small, bead-like bumps called calli cover the labellum. This orchid blooms from August to September.
How it Was Named
The fragrant china orchid was first officially described in the year 2000. Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown were the scientists who described it. They found a sample of the plant near Paynes Find.
Later, in 2015, another scientist named Mark Clements changed its scientific name to Caladenia fragrans. He did this after studying the plant's genetics. The word fragrans comes from Latin. It means "smelling agreeably," which perfectly describes the lovely vanilla scent of its flowers.
Where it Lives
The fragrant china orchid grows in Western Australia. You can find it in the area between Beacon and Mullewa. It likes to grow on and near low granite rocks. These areas are part of the Avon Wheatbelt, Murchison, and Yalgoo regions.
Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Caladenia fragrans a special classification. It is listed as "Priority Three". This means that scientists don't know a lot about this orchid yet. It has only been found in a few places. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing.
