Lindley's spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lindley's spider orchid |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
lindleyana
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis lindleyana (Rchb.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Caladenia lindleyana, also known as the Lindley's spider orchid, is a special type of orchid. It is found only in Tasmania, meaning it is endemic to that area. This orchid has a single, fuzzy leaf. It also grows one or two greenish-yellow flowers. These flowers often have hints of red and thin, dark tips on their sepals. Very few of these plants are left in the world. One plant, which hasn't been seen since 1997, is protected in a special reserve.
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What Does the Lindley's Spider Orchid Look Like?
The Lindley's spider orchid is a plant that grows on the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times. This plant has an underground tuber, which is like a swollen stem that stores food.
Leaves and Stems
Each orchid has one narrow leaf. This leaf is covered in dense hairs. It grows to be about 60 to 110 millimeters (2.4 to 4.3 inches) long. The leaf is also about 3 to 5 millimeters (0.12 to 0.20 inches) wide. The flowers grow on a stalk that stands tall. This stalk can be about 120 to 350 millimeters (4.7 to 13.8 inches) high.
Flowers
The flowers are usually 40 to 50 millimeters (1.6 to 2.0 inches) wide. They are greenish-yellow with red markings. The sepals, which are like outer leaves of the flower, become very thin at their ends. These tips are dark and have tiny glands.
The top sepal, called the dorsal sepal, stands straight up. It is about 25 to 40 millimeters (0.98 to 1.57 inches) long and 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide. The side sepals, called lateral sepals, spread out wide. They are also 25 to 40 millimeters (0.98 to 1.57 inches) long and about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) wide.
The petals are shaped like narrow spearheads. They are 20 to 25 millimeters (0.79 to 0.98 inches) long and about 1.5 millimeters (0.06 inches) wide. The petals also become thin at their tips and spread out wide.
Labellum and Calli
The labellum is a special lip-like part of the orchid flower. It is about 10 to 12 millimeters (0.39 to 0.47 inches) long and 5 to 7 millimeters (0.20 to 0.28 inches) wide. The labellum is cream-colored with dark red stripes and blotches. Its tip is dark red and curls underneath. The sides of the labellum have a few short, blunt teeth. There are also four rows of dark red, hockey stick-shaped structures called calli. These calli are up to 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) long and run along the center of the labellum. This orchid usually flowers from November to January.
How the Lindley's Spider Orchid Got Its Name
This type of caladenia orchid was first described in 1871. It was named by a scientist called Heinrich Reichenbach. He first called it Caladenia patersonii var. lindleyana. This description was published in a book called Beitrage zur Systematischen Pflanzenkunde.
Later, in 1998, two other scientists, Mark Clements and David Jones, decided it was a unique enough plant to be its own species. The second part of its scientific name, lindleyana, is a way to honor a famous botanist named John Lindley.
Where the Lindley's Spider Orchid Lives
The Lindley's spider orchid grows in forests and woodlands that are not very high up. You can find it in the central north and northern Midlands areas of Tasmania.
Why This Orchid Needs Our Help
The Lindley's spider orchid is very rare. We only know of three places where it grows. Two of these places are on private land and have only a few plants. The third place is in the Diprose Lagoon Nature Reserve, near Cleveland. However, this protected area only has one plant, and it hasn't been seen since 1997.
Because there are so few plants, this species is considered "Critically Endangered" by the Australian Government. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. The Tasmanian Government also lists it as "Endangered."
Threats to the Orchid
The main dangers to the Lindley's spider orchid include:
- Accidental damage: Since there are so few plants, even a small accident could harm the species.
- Land clearing: When land is cleared for building or farming, the orchid's habitat is destroyed.
- Fertilizer use: Fertilizers used on nearby farms can harm the delicate orchid plants.
- Wrong fire management: Fires that happen too often or not often enough can also damage the orchid's natural environment.
