Swamp spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swamp spider orchid |
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| Caladenia paludosa growing in the Jandakot Regional Park | |
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Caladenia
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| Species: |
paludosa
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The swamp spider orchid (Caladenia paludosa) is a unique type of orchid that only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific area, it's called endemic. This orchid has one tall, hairy leaf and can have up to three flowers. These flowers are a mix of red, greenish-yellow, and cream colours. You can often find this orchid growing in thick bushes, and it's one of the last spider orchids to bloom each year.
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What Does the Swamp Spider Orchid Look Like?
The swamp spider orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage organ. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years, and it's also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times.
Each plant has one leaf that stands up straight and is covered in tiny hairs. This leaf can be about 10 to 30 centimetres (4 to 12 inches) long and 0.5 to 1.5 centimetres (0.2 to 0.6 inches) wide.
The flowers are quite striking! They are usually red, greenish-yellow, and cream-coloured. Each flower can be about 3 to 5 centimetres (1.2 to 2 inches) long and 5 to 8 centimetres (2 to 3 inches) wide. These flowers grow on a stem that can reach 30 to 50 centimetres (12 to 20 inches) tall.
Flower Parts
The sepals, which are like outer leaves protecting the flower, have thick, brown, club-shaped tips. These tips can be 1 to 2.5 centimetres (0.4 to 1 inch) long.
- The top sepal, called the dorsal sepal, stands upright. It's about 3.5 to 6 centimetres (1.4 to 2.4 inches) long and 0.3 to 0.5 centimetres (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
- The two side sepals curve downwards. They are also about 3.5 to 6 centimetres (1.4 to 2.4 inches) long and 0.4 to 0.5 centimetres (0.16 to 0.2 inches) wide.
- The petals are 3 to 4.5 centimetres (1.2 to 1.8 inches) long and 0.2 to 0.4 centimetres (0.08 to 0.16 inches) wide, and they curve upwards.
The most interesting part is the labellum, which is the orchid's special lip. It's greenish-yellow with a shiny red tip that curls downwards. The labellum is about 0.7 to 2.5 centimetres (0.3 to 1 inch) long and 0.8 to 1.6 centimetres (0.3 to 0.6 inches) wide. Along its sides, it has small, linear teeth up to 0.5 centimetres (0.2 inches) long. There are also four widely spaced red bumps, called calli, running down the middle of the labellum.
This orchid usually flowers from September to early December.
Where Does the Swamp Spider Orchid Grow?
You can find the swamp spider orchid along the coast between Gingin and Gracetown. It grows in different natural areas of Western Australia, including the Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain, and Warren regions. It prefers to grow in thick scrubland, especially in areas that become swampy during winter.
Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Caladenia paludosa as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these orchids in the wild, and they are not considered to be in danger of disappearing.
