Darting spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Darting spider orchid |
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| Caladenia uliginosa subsp. uliginosa growing near Bowelling | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Caladenia |
| Species: |
C. uliginosa
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| Subspecies: |
C. u. subsp. uliginosa
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| Trinomial name | |
| Caladenia uliginosa subsp. uliginosa |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Darting Spider Orchid (scientific name: Caladenia uliginosa subsp. uliginosa) is a special type of orchid. It's also called the Dainty Spider Orchid. This beautiful plant grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It has one fuzzy leaf and usually shows off up to four greenish-cream flowers. These flowers have a unique lip-like part called a labellum that sticks out with a dark red tip.
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What Does the Darting Spider Orchid Look Like?
The Darting Spider Orchid is a ground-dwelling plant. It's a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows from an underground tuber (a bit like a potato). Each plant has a single, upright, hairy leaf. This leaf can be 100 to 160 millimeters (about 4 to 6 inches) long.
Flower Details
The plant produces a tall stem, 200 to 350 millimeters (about 8 to 14 inches) high. On this stem, you might see up to four greenish-cream flowers. Each flower is quite large, about 80 to 120 millimeters long and 40 to 60 millimeters wide.
The sepals and petals of the flower have thin, brownish, thread-like tips.
- The top sepal stands straight up.
- The side sepals and petals curve downwards.
The Labellum: A Special Feature
The most interesting part is the labellum, which is the orchid's special lip. It's cream-colored and sticks out with a dark red tip. The sides of the labellum have thin, red, upright "teeth." Its tip curves downwards. Along the center of the labellum, there are four rows of red bumps called calli. These orchids usually bloom from late September to early November.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Darting Spider Orchid was first officially described in 1984. A scientist named Alex George found a sample near Frankland. He published his description in a scientific journal called Nuytsia.
Later, in 2001, two other scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown, looked closer. They described three different types, or subspecies, of this orchid. One of these was the uliginosa subspecies we are talking about.
Meaning of the Name
The scientific name uliginosa comes from a Latin word. It means "full of moisture," "wet," or "marshy." This name perfectly describes where this orchid loves to grow: in swampy, wet areas.
Where Does the Darting Spider Orchid Live?
You can find the Darting Spider Orchid in Western Australia. It grows in the region between Boddington and Mount Barker. This area includes the Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain regions. It prefers to grow in moist forests and places that get very wet during winter.
Is It Endangered?
Good news! The Darting Spider Orchid (Caladenia uliginosa subsp. uliginosa) is currently not considered threatened. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified it as "not threatened." This means it's doing well in its natural habitat.
