Red spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crimson daddy long-legs |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
sanguinea
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| Synonyms | |
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The Crimson Daddy Long-legs Orchid (scientific name: Caladenia sanguinea) is a special type of orchid that only grows in South Australia. People also call it the Red Spider Orchid because of its unique look. This plant has one slightly hairy leaf and usually grows one or two beautiful dark red flowers. These flowers have long, thin parts that look a bit like spider legs.
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What Does It Look Like?
The Crimson Daddy Long-legs Orchid is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous plant, so it loses its leaves at certain times of the year. It grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small, round storage organ.
This orchid has one leaf that is about 5 to 11 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. The leaf is quite narrow, only about 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) wide, and has a few hairs on it.
The Flowers
The flowers are dark red and can be 4.5 to 6 centimeters (1.8 to 2.4 inches) wide. They grow on a stalk that stands 6 to 16 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) tall. Each plant usually has one or two flowers.
The flowers have special parts called sepals and petals. These parts are long, thin, and look like threads.
- The dorsal sepal (the one at the top) is 2.5 to 6 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) long and about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide.
- The lateral sepals (the two at the sides) are also 2.5 to 6 centimeters long. They are a bit wider, about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches), and spread out, curving downwards.
- The petals are similar to the lateral sepals in size and how they are arranged.
The Labellum
The labellum is a special lip-like part of the orchid flower. On the Crimson Daddy Long-legs Orchid, it is 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide. It is white with dark red patterns.
The sides of the labellum have short, wide teeth. The very tip of the labellum curls under. There are also two rows of red, anvil-shaped bumps called calli along the middle of the labellum. These calli often help attract insects for pollination.
This orchid usually blooms from August to October.
How It Got Its Name
The scientific name for this orchid, Caladenia sanguinea, was first given in 1999. A botanist named David Jones described it after finding a sample on Kangaroo Island. His description was published in a magazine called The Orchadian.
The word sanguinea comes from Latin. It means "blood," "bloody," or "blood-red," which perfectly describes the dark red color of the orchid's flowers.
Where Does It Live?
The Crimson Daddy Long-legs Orchid is only found in specific areas of South Australia. You can find it in the Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, and on Kangaroo Island.
It likes to grow in certain types of environments:
- Mallee woodland: This is a type of forest with many small, multi-stemmed eucalyptus trees.
- Heath: This is an open area with low-growing shrubs and plants.
Conservation Status
Because it only grows in a few places, the Crimson Daddy Long-legs Orchid is considered "rare" in South Australia. This means there are not many of these plants left, and efforts are made to protect them.
