Granite spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Granite spider orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
granitora
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The Granite spider orchid (scientific name: Caladenia granitora) is a special type of orchid. It only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it's endemic there, found nowhere else in the world! It has one fuzzy leaf and pretty flowers that are yellowish-cream, white, and red. The main part of the flower, called the labellum, is white with a red tip.
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What Does It Look Like?
The Granite spider 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 its leaves fall off at certain times. This orchid has an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root.
It grows one upright, hairy leaf. This leaf is usually about 10 to 18 centimeters (4-7 inches) long. It is also about 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2-0.3 inches) wide.
The plant produces one or two flowers on a tall stalk. This stalk can be about 20 to 35 centimeters (8-14 inches) high. Each flower is quite large, about 6 to 8 centimeters (2-3 inches) long. They are also about 3 to 5 centimeters (1-2 inches) wide.
The flowers are a mix of yellowish-cream, white, and red colors. The side parts of the flower, called lateral sepals, have thin, club-shaped tips. These tips are yellowish-brown and have special glands on them. The lateral sepals and petals (which are like flower leaves) spread out wide. Sometimes they curve gently downwards.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, stands straight up. It is about 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters (1-1.4 inches) long. The lateral sepals and petals are about 3.5 to 4 centimeters (1.4-1.6 inches) long.
The labellum is the most noticeable part of the flower. It is mostly white and about 1.8 to 2.2 centimeters (0.7-0.9 inches) long. The tip of the labellum is red and points forward. The sides of the labellum have reddish, spreading teeth. These teeth can be up to 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long. There are also four rows of deep red bumps, called calli, along the center. These calli are about 1.5 millimeters (0.06 inches) long.
This beautiful orchid usually blooms from October to November.
How It Got Its Name
The Granite spider orchid was first officially described in 2001. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown, gave it its scientific name, Caladenia granitora. They wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The second part of its name, granitora, comes from two Latin words. Graniticus means "of granite," and ora means "the coast." This name tells us where this orchid likes to live: near the coast on granite rocks.
Where Does It Live?
The Granite spider orchid grows in a specific area of Western Australia. You can find it between a place called Mount Manypeaks and Cheyne Beach. This area is part of the Waychinicup National Park.
It likes to grow in heathland, which is a type of shrubby plant community. It especially likes to grow on granite rock formations along the coast.
Protecting This Special Orchid
Scientists have studied the Granite spider orchid. In one survey, they found only 63 individual plants in four different groups. Because there are so few of them, this orchid needs special protection.
In 2014, the Western Australian Government listed it as "Threatened Flora." This means it's a rare plant that needs to be protected to stop it from disappearing.
Some of the main things that threaten this orchid are:
- Recreational activities: People's outdoor activities can accidentally harm the plants.
- Road maintenance: Work done on roads can disturb their habitat.
- Altered fire regimes: Changes in how often or how intensely fires happen can affect the orchid's growth.
- Small population size: Having so few plants makes them more vulnerable to problems.
Protecting the places where these orchids grow is very important to help them survive.
