Pink spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pink spider orchid |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
harringtoniae
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| Synonyms | |
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Calonemorchis harringtoniae (Hopper & A.P.Br.) Szlach. and Rutk. |
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The pink spider orchid (Caladenia harringtoniae) is a special type of orchid that grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's called a spider orchid because its long, thin petals and sepals look a bit like spider legs. This beautiful plant has a single, fuzzy leaf and usually one to three pink flowers. The center part of the flower, called the labellum, is creamy white with a pink tip.
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What the Pink Spider Orchid Looks Like
The pink spider orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage organ. It has one upright, hairy leaf that is about 15 to 25 centimeters (6 to 10 inches) long and 6 to 10 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide.
Each plant can have up to three flowers. These flowers are quite large, usually about 7 to 10 centimeters (2.7 to 4 inches) long and 5 to 7 centimeters (2 to 2.7 inches) wide. They grow on a stem that can be 20 to 40 centimeters (8 to 16 inches) tall.
Flower Parts
The flowers can be light pink to a deep pink color. They have spreading side sepals and petals.
- The top sepal stands up straight. It's about 4.5 to 7 centimeters (1.8 to 2.7 inches) long.
- The two side sepals are longer, about 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) long.
- The petals are a bit shorter, around 3.5 to 4.5 centimeters (1.4 to 1.8 inches) long.
The most interesting part is the labellum, which is the orchid's special lip. It's creamy white and has a pink tip. The sides of the labellum have red, spiky "teeth" that can be up to 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. In the middle of the labellum, there are four rows of pink bumps called calli. These calli are small, only about 1.5 millimeters (0.06 inches) long.
This orchid usually blooms from mid-September to early November.
How the Pink Spider Orchid Got its Name
The pink spider orchid was first officially described in 2001. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown, studied a plant found near Pemberton. They published their description in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The second part of its scientific name, harringtoniae, was chosen to honor Alison Harrington. She was a president of the Western Australia Native Orchid Study Group, a group dedicated to studying native orchids.
Where the Pink Spider Orchid Lives
You can find the pink spider orchid growing between the towns of Nannup and Albany in Western Australia. It prefers to grow in wet areas like swamps and flat lands that get flooded during winter. These areas are part of the Jarrah Forest and Warren regions.
Protecting the Pink Spider Orchid
The pink spider orchid is considered a "vulnerable" species. This means it's at risk of disappearing if we don't protect it. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife lists it as "Threatened Flora." The Australian Government also lists it as "vulnerable" under its Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
There are a few main things that threaten this special orchid:
- Fires: Fires that happen when the orchid is growing or flowering can harm it.
- Wild Pigs: Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) can eat or damage the plants.
- Road Work: Activities like maintaining roads can disturb the areas where these orchids grow.
Protecting these habitats and managing these threats are important steps to help the pink spider orchid survive.
