Lodge's spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lodge's spider orchid |
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Caladenia
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| Species: |
lodgeana
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Caladenia lodgeana, also known as Lodge's spider orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in a small part of Western Australia, in the south-west. This orchid has one fuzzy leaf and can have up to three flowers. These flowers are cream, red, and pink. Unlike many other similar orchids, its lip-like petal, called a labellum, does not have a red tip.
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What Lodge's Spider Orchid Looks Like
Lodge's spider orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. Each year, it grows a single, upright, hairy leaf. This leaf is usually about 10 to 20 centimeters (4-8 inches) long and 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters (0.2-0.6 inches) wide.
The plant produces up to three beautiful flowers. These flowers are cream, red, and pink. They can be quite large, about 10 to 14 centimeters (4-5.5 inches) long and 5 to 10 centimeters (2-4 inches) wide. The flowers grow on a tall stalk, which can be 20 to 40 centimeters (8-16 inches) high.
The sepals and petals of the flower have thin, club-shaped tips. These tips are usually brown and can be 0.5 to 3.5 centimeters (0.2-1.4 inches) long. The top sepal stands straight up. The two side sepals spread out wide, as do the petals.
The special lip-like petal, the labellum, is about 1.8 to 2.5 centimeters (0.7-1 inch) long. It is white or yellowish. Its tip is curled under and does not have a red color. The sides of the labellum have thin teeth, up to 0.8 centimeters (0.3 inches) long. In the middle of the labellum, there are four rows of small, pale red bumps called calli. These calli are about 0.15 centimeters (0.06 inches) long. Lodge's spider orchids bloom from late October to early December.
How Lodge's Spider Orchid Got Its Name
The Lodge's spider orchid was officially described in 2001. This was done by two botanists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown. They found a sample of the orchid near Margaret River. The scientific name, lodgeana, was chosen to honor Harry Lodge. He was a person from Western Australia who loved orchids.
Where Lodge's Spider Orchid Lives
This rare orchid is only found in a specific area of Western Australia. It grows between the towns of Margaret River and Augusta. It prefers to live in seasonal swamps, which are wet areas that can dry out at certain times of the year.
Why Lodge's Spider Orchid Needs Protection
Lodge's spider orchid is a very rare plant. In 2008, there were only about 137 adult plants known to exist. These plants were found in just two groups. Because it is so rare, the Western Australian Government lists it as "Threatened Flora." The Australian Government also calls it "Critically Endangered." This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
Many things threaten this special orchid. These include:
- Fires: Fires that happen at the wrong time can harm the plants.
- Weeds: Invasive weeds can grow and take over the orchid's habitat.
- Off-road vehicles: Four-wheel driving in its habitat can damage the plants.
- Animals: Grazing animals can eat the orchids.
- People: People trampling or picking the flowers can also hurt them.
- Drying wetlands: The places where it grows are becoming drier. This is due to water being taken out of the ground and land being cleared.
Protecting these wetlands and the orchid's habitat is very important to help this unique plant survive.
