Genoa spider orchid facts for kids

The Genoa spider orchid (scientific name: Caladenia ancylosa) is a special kind of orchid found only in Victoria, Australia. It's called a "spider orchid" because its flowers look a bit like a spider with long, thin "legs"! This plant grows from the ground and has one fuzzy leaf. It usually produces a single cream-colored flower with cool red markings.

What it Looks Like

The Genoa spider orchid is a herb that grows from a hidden underground tuber (like a small potato). It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times.

Each plant has one hairy leaf, which is about 6 to 12 centimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) long and 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide.

The Flower

A single flower grows on a stem called a spike, which is about 12 to 25 centimeters (4.7 to 9.8 inches) tall. The flower has several parts:

• The dorsal sepal is the top part, standing upright. It's about 25 to 40 millimeters (1 to 1.6 inches) long and tapers to a tip with a small gland on the end.
• The lateral sepals are the two side parts. They are also 25 to 40 millimeters long and have a gland at their tips, just like the dorsal sepal.
• The petals are about 20 to 25 millimeters (0.8 to 1 inch) long and taper to a point.
• The labellum is the special lip-like part of the orchid. It's shaped like a broad egg and curves forward. It's about 10 to 13 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long. The labellum is cream-colored at the bottom and turns red closer to the tip.

The labellum has small bumps called calli. There are 7 to 10 pairs of calli along its edges. In the center, there are six rows of foot-shaped calli. These calli get smaller towards the tip of the labellum.

The Genoa spider orchid usually blooms in September and October.

How it Got its Name

This orchid was first officially described in 2006 by a scientist named David L. Jones. He first named it Arachnorchis ancylosa. Then, in 2007, another scientist named Gary Backhouse changed its name to Caladenia ancylosa.

The word ancylosa comes from a Greek word meaning "stiffening of the joints." This refers to how the side sepals and petals of the flower spread out stiffly.

Where it Lives

The Genoa spider orchid is only found in a small area in far east Gippsland, which is in Victoria, Australia. It grows in the shrub layer of tall, open forests, especially near the town of Genoa.

Protecting the Orchid

The Victorian government has listed the Genoa spider orchid as "Vulnerable." This means that there aren't many of these plants left, and they could be at risk of disappearing if we don't protect their habitat.