Elegant spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elegant spider orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
elegans
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The elegant spider orchid (Caladenia elegans) is a special type of orchid. It only grows in a small area near the coast of Western Australia. This makes it endemic, meaning it's found nowhere else in the world.
This orchid looks a lot like the common spider orchid (C. vulgata). They often grow together. However, the elegant spider orchid has different colored flowers. It also prefers to grow in wet, poorly-drained soil. Sadly, in 2016, only about 2,300 of these beautiful plants were left.
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What It Looks Like
The elegant spider orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. It's a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It often grows in groups of up to eight or more plants.
Each plant has one upright, hairy leaf. This leaf is usually about 6 to 12 centimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) long. It is also about 2 to 5 millimeters (0.08 to 0.2 inches) wide.
The Flowers
The plant can have up to three lemon-yellow flowers. Each flower is about 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) wide. They grow on a stalk that stands 20 to 35 centimeters (8 to 14 inches) tall.
The parts of the flower that look like petals (called sepals and petals) become very thin at their ends. These tips are dark-colored and droop downwards. The top sepal stands straight up.
The side sepals and petals curve downwards. The central part of the flower is called the labellum. It is cream-colored with red lines and spots. The edges of the labellum have small, wide teeth. There are also two rows of shiny yellow bumps, called calli, along its middle.
These orchids usually bloom from July to August.
How It's Different from Other Orchids
This orchid is very similar to the common spider orchid (C. vulgata). But you can tell them apart by their flowers. The elegant spider orchid has lemon-yellow flowers. Its calli (the bumps on the labellum) are also shiny yellow. Sometimes, these two types of orchids can even mix and create new hybrid plants.
Where It Lives
The elegant spider orchid is only found near a place called Northampton. It likes to grow in clay soils that get very wet in winter. You can often find it near thick, low shrubs. This area is part of the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region. The common spider orchid, on the other hand, usually grows in drier soils.
Protecting This Orchid
The elegant spider orchid is a very rare plant. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife calls it "Priority One." This means it's only found in a few spots, and these spots might be in danger.
In 2016, a survey found only about 2,300 plants left. These plants were spread across 18 different groups. The biggest dangers to this orchid are:
- Weed invasion: Weeds can grow and take over the orchid's space.
- Grazing and trampling: Animals like pigs and rabbits can eat or step on the plants.
Because it's so rare, the Australian government also lists it as "Critically Endangered." This is under a law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act. This law helps protect plants and animals that are at high risk of disappearing forever.
