Small spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Small spider orchid |
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| Caladenia parva growing near Taradale | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
parva
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis parva (G.W.Carr) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Small Spider Orchid (scientific name: Caladenia parva) is a special type of plant. It belongs to the orchid family. You can only find this orchid in south-eastern Australia. It grows on the ground and has one leaf. Its flowers are usually green with cool red stripes. These stripes are on parts of the flower called sepals and petals.
What it Looks Like
The Small Spider Orchid is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root. Each plant has one leaf. This leaf is about 30 to 100 millimeters (1.2 to 3.9 inches) long. It is also about 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. You might see red spots near the bottom of the leaf.
The plant usually has one or two green flowers. These flowers have red stripes. They grow on a stem that is about 50 to 150 millimeters (2 to 5.9 inches) tall. The sepals are parts of the flower that look like petals. They have thick, brown, club-shaped tips. These tips are about 3 to 6 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.
- The top sepal curves forward. It is about 25 to 35 millimeters (1 to 1.4 inches) long.
- The side sepals are also 25 to 35 millimeters long. They often grow parallel to each other. Sometimes they cross over.
- The petals are a bit shorter, about 20 to 26 millimeters (0.8 to 1 inch) long. They curve downwards.
The labellum is a special lip-like part of the orchid flower. It is greenish with a white middle. Its tip is dark red and curls under. The labellum is about 11 to 14 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long. It has thin green teeth along its sides. These teeth can be up to 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) long. There are also four rows of reddish-black bumps called calli in the center. These calli are up to 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long. This orchid usually flowers in September and October.
How it Got its Name
The Small Spider Orchid was first officially described in 1991. A scientist named Geoffrey Carr gave it its scientific name. He found a sample of the plant in the Dergholm State Park. The name parva comes from a Latin word. It means "little" or "small." This name fits because it is a small orchid.
Where it Lives
You can find the Small Spider Orchid in different places. It grows in southern Victoria, Australia. It also lives in the very south-eastern part of South Australia. This orchid likes to grow in woodlands and along the coast in scrub areas.
Conservation
The Small Spider Orchid is not currently listed as endangered. It is not on the list of protected plants under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1998. This means it is not considered at high risk of disappearing.
