Eastern mantis orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastern mantis orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
tentaculata
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| Synonyms | |
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The eastern mantis orchid (scientific name: Caladenia tentaculata) is a special plant. It is also known by other names like the large green-comb or fringed spider orchid. This unique flower belongs to the orchid family. You can only find it growing naturally in south-eastern Australia. It's a type of orchid that grows in the ground. It has one fuzzy leaf and can grow up to three green flowers. These flowers often have cool red stripes on their petals and sepals.
What Does the Eastern Mantis Orchid Look Like?
The eastern mantis orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times.
- It has a single, hairy leaf.
- This leaf is usually 80–150 mm (about 3-6 inches) long.
- It can be 12–20 mm (about half an inch to an inch) wide.
- Sometimes, you might see red spots near the bottom of the leaf.
The plant grows a tall stem, 150–500 mm (about 6-20 inches) high. On this stem, it can have up to three green flowers. Each flower is quite large, about 60–100 mm (2-4 inches) across. They have red stripes on their sepals and petals.
- The sepals are like outer leaves that protect the flower. They have brown or yellow tips that look like small clubs. These tips are 5–12 mm long.
- The top sepal curves forward. It's about 60–80 mm long.
- The side sepals point downwards. Their tips might turn slightly upwards or even droop.
- The petals are also turned downwards. They are about 40–50 mm long.
The most interesting part is the labellum, which is the orchid's special lip.
- It is green with a white area in the middle and a dark red tip.
- It measures about 16–20 mm long and 20–25 mm wide.
- Each side of the labellum has five to eight thin, green "teeth" up to 8 mm long.
- The tip of the labellum curves downwards.
- In the center, there are four rows of dark red, club-shaped bumps called calli. These are about 2 mm long.
You can see these beautiful orchids flowering from September to December.
How Did the Eastern Mantis Orchid Get Its Name?
The eastern mantis orchid was first officially described in 1847. A scientist named Diederich von Schlechtendal gave it its scientific name, Caladenia tentaculata. He published his description in a science journal called Linnaea.
The second part of its name, tentaculata, comes from a Latin word. This word means "feeler" or "holdfast." This probably refers to the orchid's unique, tentacle-like sepals and the "teeth" on its labellum.
Where Does the Eastern Mantis Orchid Grow?
The eastern mantis orchid is found across a large area in south-eastern Australia. You can find it in:
- Most parts of Victoria.
- Eastern New South Wales.
- South-eastern South Australia.
It likes to grow in different types of places, including:
- Heathlands (areas with small shrubs).
- Woodlands (areas with trees that are not too dense).
- Forests.
