Narrow-lipped spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Narrow-lipped spider orchid |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Caladenia |
| Species: |
C. leptochila
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| Subspecies: |
C. l. subsp. leptochila
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| Trinomial name | |
| Caladenia leptochila subsp. leptochila |
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The narrow-lipped spider orchid (Caladenia leptochila subsp. leptochila) is a special type of orchid plant. It's found only in South Australia and is known for its unique yellowish or red flowers. This orchid is a bit different from its close relative, Caladenia leptochila subsp. dentata, mainly because of its flower color and the smooth edges of its 'lip' (a part of the flower).
What Does the Narrow-Lipped Spider Orchid Look Like?
The narrow-lipped spider orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years, and it's also deciduous, which means it loses its leaves at certain times. This plant has an underground tuber (like a small potato) and a single leaf that stands straight up. This leaf is about 10 to 20 centimeters (4-8 inches) long and 8 to 12 millimeters (0.3-0.5 inches) wide.
Each plant usually has one or two flowers. These flowers are yellowish or red and are about 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters (1-1.4 inches) across. They grow on a stalk that can be 20 to 45 centimeters (8-18 inches) tall.
The flowers have special parts:
- The sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. These sepals have thin, reddish, club-like tips that are about 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2-0.3 inches) long.
- The dorsal sepal (the one at the back) stands up straight and is about 4 to 6.5 centimeters (1.6-2.6 inches) long and 4 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide.
- The lateral sepals (the ones on the sides) are similar in size but point stiffly upwards.
- The petals are about 3.5 to 4.5 centimeters (1.4-1.8 inches) long and 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. They either spread out sideways or turn upwards.
- The labellum is a special lip-shaped petal, about 12 to 15 millimeters (0.5-0.6 inches) long and 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2-0.3 inches) wide. It's red, and its tip is rolled under. Unlike its close relative, the sides of this labellum are smooth and don't have teeth. It has four rows of short, red bumps called calli along its middle.
You can see these orchids flowering from September to November.
How Did the Narrow-Lipped Spider Orchid Get Its Name?
The narrow-lipped spider orchid was first officially described by a person named Robert D. FitzGerald in 1882. He wrote about it in a publication called The Gardener's Chronicle after finding a sample of the plant on Mount Lofty.
Later, in 2008, scientists described a new subspecies of this orchid, called Caladenia leptochila subsp. dentata. This meant that the original plant became known as Caladenia leptochila subsp. leptochila to show it was the original form.
The name leptochila comes from two ancient Greek words:
- leptos (λεπτός) means "fine," "small," or "thin."
- cheilos (χεῖλος) means "lip."
So, the name "narrow-lipped" perfectly describes a key feature of this orchid's flower!
Where Does the Narrow-Lipped Spider Orchid Live?
The narrow-lipped spider orchid grows in the southeastern part of South Australia. It likes to live in clay or gravelly soils found in shrubby forests, especially in the Mount Lofty ranges.
It's believed that this orchid used to be common in Victoria a long time ago. However, sadly, it is now probably extinct in Victoria, meaning it no longer grows there naturally.
