Boyup Brook spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boyup Brook spider orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
perangusta
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The Boyup Brook spider orchid (scientific name: Caladenia perangusta) is a special type of orchid. It only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia, which means it's endemic there. This rare spider orchid has a single fuzzy leaf. Its flowers are usually cream-yellow or red, and they have thin, hanging parts called sepals and petals.
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What Does It Look Like?
The Boyup Brook spider orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times of the year. Sometimes, these orchids grow in small groups.
Leaves and Stems
Each plant has one straight leaf. This leaf is about 50 to 160 millimeters (2 to 6 inches) long and 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. It's pale green and often has reddish-purple spots near its base. The flowers grow on a stem that stands 170 to 370 millimeters (7 to 15 inches) tall.
Flowers
Each stem usually has one or two flowers. These flowers are quite big, about 80 to 140 millimeters (3 to 6 inches) long and 30 to 40 millimeters (1 to 2 inches) wide. They can be red, creamy-yellow, or pale yellow with red marks.
The flower parts, called sepals and petals, are very thin. They start out wider at the bottom and then become like a thread with a brownish-red, sticky tip.
- The top sepal stands up straight or bends slightly forward. It's about 60 to 80 millimeters (2 to 3 inches) long.
- The two side sepals spread out near the bottom and then hang downwards. They are also 60 to 80 millimeters long.
- The petals are similar to the side sepals and are about 50 to 70 millimeters (2 to 3 inches) long.
The labellum is a special part of the orchid's flower. It's about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. It can be cream or red with darker red marks. The edges of the labellum have jagged, white-tipped teeth. Its tip curves downwards. There are also two rows of small, anvil-shaped bumps called calli along the center of the labellum.
This orchid blooms from August to early October.
How Was It Named?
The Boyup Brook spider orchid was first officially described in 2015. Two scientists, Andrew Phillip Brown and Garry Brockman, found a sample of this orchid near a place called Boyup Brook. They wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The scientific name, perangusta, comes from two Latin words:
- per means "very" or "exceedingly"
- angustus means "narrow" or "slender"
This name perfectly describes the orchid's very thin petals and sepals.
Where Does It Live?
The Boyup Brook spider orchid grows in a specific area of Western Australia. You can find it between Frankland and Boyup Brook. It likes to grow in woodlands where wandoo trees are common. This area is part of the Jarrah Forest biogeographic region, which is a large natural area with similar plants and animals.
Protecting This Orchid
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Caladenia perangusta as "Priority Two". This means it's a very rare plant. It's only known to grow in one or a few places, so it needs special care to protect it.
