Late white spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Late white spider orchid |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Caladenia |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
C. l. subsp. extrema
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Caladenia longicauda subsp. extrema A.P.Br. & G.Brockman
|
|
The late white spider orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. extrema) is a special kind of orchid. It's also called the Seaton Ross spider orchid. This plant is only found in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
It has a single hairy leaf. Its flowers are mostly white. They have long parts that spread out, called sepals and petals. This orchid is quite rare. It looks a bit like the tangled white spider orchid. But the late white spider orchid has bigger flowers. It also blooms later in the year.
Contents
What Does the Late White Spider Orchid Look Like?
The late white spider orchid is a ground-dwelling plant. It is a perennial herb. This means it lives for many years. It also has an underground tuber, which is like a storage root. These orchids usually grow by themselves.
Each plant has one hairy leaf. This leaf is about 10 to 17 centimetres (4 to 7 inches) long. It is also about 0.5 to 1.2 centimetres (0.2 to 0.5 inches) wide.
One or two flowers grow on a stem. The stem can be 16 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches) tall. The flowers are mostly white. They are about 8 to 11 centimetres (3 to 4 inches) long. They are also 6 to 9 centimetres (2 to 4 inches) wide.
The top sepal stands straight up. It is about 5 to 8 centimetres (2 to 3 inches) long. The side sepals are 6 to 9.5 centimetres (2 to 4 inches) long. The petals are 5.5 to 8 centimetres (2 to 3 inches) long. The side sepals and petals start wide. Then they quickly become narrow. They curve downwards at their ends.
The labellum is the special lip-like part of the orchid. It is white. It is about 1.6 to 2.1 centimetres (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long. It is also 0.5 to 1.2 centimetres (0.2 to 0.5 inches) wide. The sides of the labellum have narrow teeth. These teeth can be up to 0.5 centimetres (0.2 inches) long. In the middle of the labellum, there are rows of pale red bumps. These bumps are called calli. They are about 0.15 centimetres (0.06 inches) long.
This orchid blooms from November to early December. It is very similar to subspecies redacta. But the late white spider orchid has bigger flowers. Its labellum is also larger. It also flowers later in the year.
How This Orchid Got Its Name
The scientific name for this orchid is Caladenia longicauda subsp. extrema. The main species, Caladenia longicauda, was first described in 1840. This was done by John Lindley. His description was published in a book about plants.
Later, in 2001, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown described many different types of this orchid. Then, in 2015, Andrew Brown and Garry Brockman described three more. One of these was subspecies extrema. Their new descriptions were published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Before it got its official name, this subspecies was known as Caladenia longicauda subsp. 'Manjimup'. The name extrema comes from a Latin word. It means "outermost," "farthest," or "last." This name was chosen because this orchid flowers later than other similar types.
Where the Late White Spider Orchid Lives
The late white spider orchid is only found in a small area. This area is near Manjimup in Western Australia. This region is known as the Jarrah Forest. The first plant used to describe this subspecies was collected there.
This orchid usually grows in places that get swampy in winter. It likes wet conditions.
Protecting the Late White Spider Orchid
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has a special list. On this list, Caladenia longicauda subsp. extrema is called "Priority One".
Being "Priority One" means that this orchid is known from only a few places. These places are potentially at risk. This classification helps to protect the orchid. It makes sure people know it needs special care. This helps to keep it safe for the future.
