Primrose spider orchid facts for kids

The primrose spider orchid (scientific name: Caladenia xantha) is a special type of orchid that grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's known for its bright yellow flowers and a unique, hairy leaf.

What Does It Look Like?

The primrose spider orchid is a herb that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It has one upright, hairy leaf that can be 80 to 200 mm long and 3 to 5 mm wide.

This orchid produces up to three pale to bright yellow flowers. Each flower is quite large, about 60 to 100 mm long and 70 to 100 mm wide. These flowers grow on a stalk that stands 180 to 260 mm tall.

Flower Parts

The flower has parts called sepals and petals, which have dark brown, thin tips.

• The dorsal (top) sepal stands upright. It is 60 to 80 mm long and about 2 mm wide.
• The lateral (side) sepals are 40 to 60 mm long and about 3 mm wide. They curve downwards.
• The petals are similar to the side sepals, being 30 to 50 mm long and 2 to 3 mm wide. They also curve downwards.

The most interesting part is the labellum, which is like the orchid's "lip." It is 10 to 15 mm long and 7 to 10 mm wide. It's creamy-yellow with brown stripes and spots. The sides of the labellum have a jagged, saw-like edge. The very tip curls downwards. Along the middle of the labellum, there are two rows of cream-coloured calli (small bumps) that look like tiny anvils.

This beautiful orchid blooms from July to early September.

How It Was Named

The primrose spider orchid was officially described in 2001 by two botanists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown. They found a sample of this orchid near Katanning. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.

The scientific name xantha comes from an Ancient Greek word, xanthos. This word means "yellow," "yellowish-red," "orange," or "golden." It was chosen because of the bright yellow colour of the orchid's flowers.

Where It Lives

The primrose spider orchid is mostly found in Western Australia. You can find it between the Mogumber Nature Reserve and Kendenup. It grows in areas known as the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, and Swan Coastal Plain.

It prefers to grow in soil that drains well. You'll often see it under wandoo and sheoak trees.

Conservation Status

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked into the status of Caladenia xantha. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these orchids in the wild, and they are not considered to be in danger.