Caladenia helvina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caladenia helvina |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
helvina
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis helvina (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Caladenia helvina, also known as the summer spider orchid, is a special plant in the orchid family. It only grows in Tasmania, which means it is endemic there. This ground orchid has a single hairy leaf. It usually has one greenish-yellow or pale yellow flower. The flower has reddish "teeth" on the sides of its "lip" (called the labellum) and reddish bumps along its middle.
What Does It Look Like?
The summer spider orchid is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years and its stems are soft, not woody. It grows from an underground tuber (like a potato). It has one dull green leaf that is covered in dense hairs. This leaf is usually about 100 to 160 mm (4–6 inches) long and 5 to 20 mm (0.2–0.8 inches) wide.
Usually, only one flower grows on a thin, wiry, hairy stem. This stem can be 200 to 500 mm (8–20 inches) tall. The flower's sepals and petals are narrow at their base. They then suddenly become very thin, like a thread. The top sepal is 55 to 85 mm (2–3 inches) long and curves forward. The side sepals are similar in size and shape. The petals are a bit shorter and narrower.
The "lip" of the flower, called the labellum, is shaped like an egg or a heart. It is about 15 to 19 mm (0.6–0.7 inches) long and 8 to 10 mm (0.3–0.4 inches) wide. It is greenish-yellow or dull yellow. The tip of the labellum curls under. There are thin yellow or reddish-purple "teeth" on its sides, up to 2 mm (0.08 inches) long. Along the middle of the labellum, there are four or six rows of yellowish or purplish bumps. These bumps are shaped like golf clubs and get smaller towards the tip. This orchid flowers from December to January.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Caladenia helvina was first officially described in 1991. A botanist named David Jones gave it its scientific name. The second part of its name, helvina, is a Latin word. It means "yellowish" or "pale yellow." This name was chosen because of the color of the orchid's flowers.
Where Does It Grow?
The summer spider orchid is found all over Tasmania. It likes to grow in forests. You can often find it in shallow soil, which can sometimes be stony.
