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Dunsborough spider orchid facts for kids

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Dunsborough spider orchid
Conservation status

Endangered (EPBC Act)
Scientific classification
Genus:
Caladenia
Species:
viridescens
Synonyms

Calonemorchis viridescens (Hopper & A.P.Br.) Szlach. & Rutk.

The Caladenia viridescens, also called the Dunsborough spider orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This orchid has a single, upright, hairy leaf. It also has up to three pale greenish-yellow flowers. These flowers often have faint red or pink marks on them.

What Does It Look Like?

The Dunsborough spider orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant has an underground tuber, which is like a small storage organ. From this tuber grows a single leaf. This leaf stands up straight and is usually 150–200 mm long and 5–8 mm wide.

The orchid can have up to three flowers. These flowers are greenish-yellow with light red or pink markings. Each flower is about 50–70 mm wide. They grow on a stalk that is 250–400 mm tall.

Flower Parts

The flowers have special parts called sepals. These sepals have thick, brownish, club-like tips. These tips are covered in tiny glands and are 5–8 mm long.

  • The dorsal sepal (the one at the top) stands straight up. It is 40–50 mm long and about 3 mm wide.
  • The lateral sepals (the two on the sides) are also 40–50 mm long. They spread out from each other. Their tips usually curve downwards.
  • The petals are 35–40 mm long and about 3 mm wide. They are held out flat or curve slightly downwards.

The most interesting part is the labellum. This is a special lip-like petal. It is 17–22 mm long and 10–14 mm wide. The labellum is greenish-yellow with red lines. Its tip is dark red and curls underneath. The sides of the labellum have narrow, red teeth up to 4 mm long. There are also four rows of dark red bumps, called calli, along its middle. These calli are up to 1.5 mm long.

This orchid usually flowers from September to November.

How It Was Named

The Dunsborough spider orchid was first officially described in 2001. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown, gave it its scientific name. They found a sample of the orchid near Cape Naturaliste. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.

The scientific name viridescens comes from two Latin words. Viridis means "green". The ending -escens means "becoming". So, viridescens refers to the pale green color of this orchid's flowers.

Where Does It Live?

The Dunsborough spider orchid is only found in a small area of Western Australia. This area is between Yallingup and Busselton. It grows in a type of forest called the Jarrah Forest. Here, it lives in shrubby woodlands.

Protecting This Orchid

The Dunsborough spider orchid is a very rare plant. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife lists it as "Threatened Flora." This means it is a rare plant that needs protection. The Australian Government also lists it as "Endangered" (EN) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.

The main dangers to this orchid are:

  • Weed invasion: Weeds can grow around the orchids and take their space and nutrients.
  • Grazing and digging: Animals like rabbits, kangaroos, bandicoots, and farm animals can eat or dig up the orchids.

Because of these threats, people are working to protect this special orchid.

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