Eastern spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastern spider orchid |
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| Caladenia orientalis growing near Wonthaggi | |
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| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
nobilis
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The eastern spider orchid, officially called Caladenia orientalis, is a unique type of orchid. It grows only in Victoria, Australia. This ground orchid has a single leaf that feels hairy. Its flowers are usually creamy-white or yellowish-green. You can often find this special plant growing near the Mornington Peninsula.
About the Eastern Spider Orchid
The eastern spider orchid is a plant that grows from a small, round underground tuber. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It also loses its leaves each year, which is called being deciduous.
It has one leaf, about 10 to 15 centimetres (4-6 inches) long. This leaf is also about 1 to 1.5 centimetres (0.4-0.6 inches) wide.
One or two flowers grow on a stalk that is 10 to 20 centimetres (4-8 inches) tall. Each flower is quite large, about 7 to 10 centimetres (3-4 inches) across.
The parts of the flower, like the sepals and petals, become very thin at their ends. These tips can be brown or black. The top sepal stands straight up. The two side sepals spread out from each other. The petals curve downwards.
The labellum is a special lip-like part of the flower. It is cream-coloured and has many small red teeth along its sides. The very tip of the labellum curls under. There are also rows of small, reddish, foot-shaped bumps called calli along the middle of the labellum.
This orchid usually flowers from September to October. However, it often blooms best after a summer bushfire. It can be tricky to tell this orchid apart from some other similar spider orchids. Sometimes, it even mixes with other types to form new hybrid plants.
How It Got Its Name
This orchid was first officially described in 2001. Two botanists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown, gave it the name Caladenia fragrantissima subspecies orientalis.
Later, in 2004, the same two botanists decided it was a separate species. They then changed its name to Caladenia orientalis. The word orientalis comes from Latin. It means "of the east," which refers to where this orchid grows.
Where It Lives
The eastern spider orchid used to be found in more places. But in 2010, surveys showed it only grows in a specific area of Victoria. This area is between Port Campbell and Yarram.
It likes to grow in coastal areas. You can find it in places with low, shrubby plants called heath. It also grows in woodlands where there are many heath plants underneath the trees.
Protecting This Orchid
The eastern spider orchid is considered "endangered." This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. Both the Victorian and Australian governments have laws to protect it.
The biggest dangers to this orchid are:
- Land clearing: When its habitat is removed for buildings or farms.
- Trampling: People or animals walking on and damaging the plants.
- Wrong fire times: Fires that happen too often or not often enough can harm the orchid.
Good news! Experiments in Wilsons Promontory National Park have shown that putting fences around these orchids helps a lot. The fences stop animals from eating or stepping on the plants. This helps the orchids grow and survive.
