Daddy-long-legs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Daddy-long-legs |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Caladenia
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| Species: |
filamentosa
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Caladenia filamentosa, often called the daddy-long-legs orchid, is a special kind of plant from the orchid family. You can find it only in eastern Australia. This orchid grows from the ground and has a single, fuzzy leaf. Its flowers are usually dark red and have long, dangly parts that look like threads, which is why it's called "daddy-long-legs"!
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What Does the Daddy-Long-Legs Orchid Look Like?
The daddy-long-legs orchid is a plant that grows from an underground storage part called a tuber. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous plant, which means its leaves might die back in some seasons. Sometimes, these orchids grow close together in groups.
Each plant has one long, narrow leaf that is covered in tiny hairs. This leaf can be about 10 to 18 centimeters (4-7 inches) long and 4 to 7 millimeters (0.16-0.28 inches) wide.
The orchid usually has one or two flowers, but sometimes up to four. These flowers grow on a tall stem that can be 30 to 45 centimeters (12-18 inches) high. The flowers are usually dark red, but sometimes they can be pale red or even reddish-green.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, stands straight up. It's about 50 to 70 millimeters (2-3 inches) long. The side parts, called the lateral sepals and petals, are long and thin like threads. They often have dark, sticky tips and can even get tangled with other plants nearby! The lateral sepals are similar in size to the dorsal sepal, while the petals are a bit shorter.
The bottom lip of the flower, called the labellum, is shaped like an egg. It's about 5.5 to 8 millimeters (0.22-0.31 inches) long and 3.5 to 5 millimeters (0.14-0.20 inches) wide, and its tip curves forward. The labellum is red with darker marks, and it has many short, wide "teeth" along its edges. There are also two rows of flat bumps, called calli, along the center of the labellum.
You can usually see these beautiful orchids flowering from September to November.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The scientific name for this orchid, Caladenia filamentosa, was first officially described in 1810 by a botanist named Robert Brown.
The second part of its name, filamentosa, comes from a Latin word, filamentum, which means "a thread." The ending -osa means "full of" or "abounding in." So, filamentosa basically means "full of threads," which perfectly describes the long, thread-like parts of its flowers!
Where Does the Daddy-Long-Legs Orchid Grow?
Even though the daddy-long-legs orchid can be found in many places, it's not very common anywhere. It likes to grow in forests and scrub areas where the soil drains water well.
In New South Wales, you'll mostly find it in the drier areas further inland. In Victoria, it's spread out across the state. In South Australia, it only grows in the very southeastern corner. And in Tasmania, you can find it in the eastern half of the state.
Is This Orchid Protected?
Yes, the Caladenia filamentosa is considered "Rare" in Tasmania. This means it's a special plant that needs protection under Tasmania's Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 to make sure it continues to thrive.
