French island spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids French Island spider orchid |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
insularis
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis insularis (G.W.Carr) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Caladenia insularis, also known as the French Island spider orchid, is a unique plant from the orchid family. It is only found in Victoria, Australia, especially on French Island.
This orchid grows from the ground and has just one leaf. It usually produces a single flower that can be cream, pink, or pale yellow, often with many red stripes.
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What the French Island Spider Orchid Looks Like
The French Island spider orchid is a plant that grows in the ground. It's a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years, and it's a deciduous herb, so it loses its leaves each year. It has a round underground part called a tuber, which helps it store food.
It has one hairy, reddish-green leaf that is shaped like a spear. This leaf is about 50 to 85 millimeters (2 to 3.3 inches) long and 7 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide.
Usually, there is only one flower on a stem that stands about 300 to 400 millimeters (12 to 16 inches) tall. The flowers are cream, pink, or pale yellow and have strong red stripes.
- The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, is 30 to 60 millimeters (1.2 to 2.4 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. It curves forward.
- The side parts, called lateral sepals, are also 30 to 60 millimeters (1.2 to 2.4 inches) long and 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) wide. They have thin, red, club-shaped tips and point stiffly downwards.
- The petals are 25 to 45 millimeters (1 to 1.8 inches) long and about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide. They also curve downwards and sometimes have club-shaped ends.
- The labellum (the orchid's special lip) is dark red and shaped like a narrow triangle. It's 10 to 13 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long and 7 to 9 millimeters (0.28 to 0.35 inches) wide. The sides of the labellum have short, blunt, dark red teeth. Its tip is rolled under, and there are four or six rows of small bumps, called calli, along its middle.
These orchids usually bloom in September and October.
Naming the French Island Spider Orchid
The French Island spider orchid was officially named Caladenia insularis in 1991 by Geoffrey Carr. He found a sample of the plant near a place called The Pinnacles on French Island. The name was then published in a scientific paper.
The second part of its scientific name, insularis, is a Latin word. It means "of an island," which makes sense because this orchid is found on French Island.
Where the French Island Spider Orchid Lives
The French Island spider orchid grows in heathland areas on French Island. It seems that things like fire or mowing can help the flowers grow more.
Looking After the French Island Spider Orchid
The French Island spider orchid is considered "threatened" under Victoria's Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. It is also listed as "vulnerable" by the Australian Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This means it needs special protection because its numbers are low.
The biggest dangers to this orchid are:
- Weeds growing and taking over its space.
- Animals like goats, deer, and rabbits eating the plants.
