Walpole spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walpole spider orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
interjacens
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The Walpole spider orchid, also known by its scientific name Caladenia interjacens, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area. It has a single, fuzzy leaf. Its flowers are pale pink and white. Unlike many other similar orchids, its lower lip (called a labellum) does not have a red tip.
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What Does the Walpole Spider Orchid Look Like?
The Walpole spider orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It has an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root. Each plant has one straight, hairy leaf. This leaf is about 80–200 mm (3–8 in) long and 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) wide.
The Flowers
The plant usually has one or two flowers. These flowers are white with pink marks. They are quite large, about 100–150 mm (4–6 in) long and 50–100 mm (2–4 in) wide. The flowers grow on a tall stalk, which can be 300–600 mm (10–20 in) high.
The flower has parts called sepals. These sepals have tips that look like clubs. These tips are pinkish-grey to brownish and are 20–70 mm (0.8–3 in) long.
- The top sepal, called the dorsal sepal, stands straight up. It is 65–100 mm (3–4 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide.
- The two side sepals, called lateral sepals, are 70–120 mm (3–5 in) long and 5–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. They point stiffly downwards.
The petals of the flower are 40–55 mm (1.6–2.2 in) long and 3.5–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. They spread out almost flat.
The Labellum
The labellum is the special lower lip of the orchid flower. For the Walpole spider orchid, it is 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide. It is pinkish-white. The very tip of the labellum is rolled under and does not have a red color. The sides of the labellum have pinkish "teeth" that can be up to 7 mm (0.3 in) long. In the middle, there are four to six rows of small bumps called calli. These calli are pinkish to deep red and are up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long.
The Walpole spider orchid usually blooms from September to late October.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Walpole spider orchid was first officially described in 2001. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown, gave it its scientific name, Caladenia interjacens. They found a sample of the plant in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The second part of its scientific name, interjacens, comes from a Latin word. It means "intervening" or "coming between." This name was chosen because the flowers of this orchid look like a mix between two other types of orchids: Caladenia longicauda and C. huegelii.
Where Does It Live?
The Walpole spider orchid grows in a specific area of Western Australia. You can find it between Walpole and West Cliff Point. It lives in two special natural areas: the Jarrah Forest and the Warren biogeographic regions. These regions are places with similar plants, animals, and climate. The orchid likes to grow in woodlands and in low, bushy areas along the coast.
Protecting the Walpole Spider Orchid
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants and animals. They have classified Caladenia interjacens as "Priority Four". This means that the Walpole spider orchid is rare or almost threatened. It needs to be watched and protected so it doesn't disappear.
