Mount Pilot spider orchid facts for kids

The Mount Pilot spider orchid (scientific name: Caladenia pilotensis) is a special type of flower. It belongs to the amazing orchid family. This orchid is found only in one place: the state of Victoria, Australia. It's a ground orchid, meaning it grows from the soil. It has just one leaf and usually one or two flowers. These flowers are white or creamy-white, and sometimes they have cool red lines. This rare plant is known to grow only on a single mountain!

What Does the Mount Pilot Spider Orchid Look Like?

The Mount Pilot spider orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It's a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous plant, meaning its leaves fall off at certain times. This orchid is a herb, not a woody plant like a tree. It has a special underground tuber (like a small potato) and one leaf. This leaf is about 70 to 130 mm (2.8 to 5.1 in) long and 10 to 15 mm (0.39 to 0.59 in) wide.

Its Flowers

The orchid produces one or two flowers on a tall stem, which is about 200 to 300 mm (7.9 to 11.8 in) high. These flowers have a lovely citrus scent and are creamy-white. Sometimes, they have red stripes. The flower parts called sepals and petals often have brown or reddish tips that look like tiny glands.

The top sepal, called the dorsal sepal, stands straight up. It's about 60 to 80 mm (2.4 to 3.1 in) long. The two side sepals, called lateral sepals, are also 60 to 80 mm (2.4 to 3.1 in) long. They spread out and point downwards. The petals are similar to the lateral sepals, about 40 to 70 mm (1.6 to 2.8 in) long.

The most interesting part is the labellum, which is like the orchid's "lip." It's cream-coloured or reddish, about 15 to 20 mm (0.59 to 0.79 in) long. The sides of the labellum have small white or reddish "teeth" up to 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long. The very tip of the labellum curls under. In the middle of the labellum, there are four to six rows of tiny bumps called calli, which are also white or reddish.

This orchid usually blooms in September and October.

How It Was Named

Discovering the Mount Pilot Spider Orchid

The Mount Pilot spider orchid was first officially described in 1999. A botanist named David Jones gave it its formal scientific name, Caladenia pilotensis. The description was published in a special magazine called The Orchadian.

Where It Lives

Home of the Mount Pilot Spider Orchid

The Mount Pilot spider orchid is only found in one specific place: Mount Pilot! This mountain is located near a town called Beechworth in Victoria, Australia. The orchid likes to grow in woodlands, often nestled among large granite rocks.

Protecting the Orchid

Why This Orchid Needs Our Help

The Mount Pilot spider orchid is considered "endangered" in Victoria. This means it's at a high risk of disappearing forever. It is protected under a special law called the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. This law helps to protect rare and threatened plants and animals in Victoria, making sure they can survive for future generations.