Gillenbah spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gillenbah spider orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
rileyi
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis rileyi (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Gillenbah spider orchid (scientific name: Caladenia rileyi) is a special type of plant. It belongs to the orchid family and is found only in New South Wales, Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
This orchid grows from the ground. It has one leaf and a single flower. The flower is usually yellowish-green and red.
What Does It Look Like?
The Gillenbah spider orchid is a plant that lives for many years. It grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root. Each plant has one leaf, which is about 4 to 10 centimeters (1.5 to 4 inches) long. It is about 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
A single flower grows on a stem that is about 8 to 25 centimeters (3 to 10 inches) tall. The flower has a mix of yellowish-green and red colors.
The flower parts, called sepals and petals, have thick, brownish tips. These tips look a bit like clubs. The top sepal stands upright. The two side sepals are parallel and point slightly downwards. The petals also point downwards a little.
The most interesting part is the labellum. This is the orchid's special lip. It is about 1.7 to 2 centimeters (0.7 to 0.8 inches) long and wide. The labellum is greenish-white with a dark red tip. Its sides curve upwards and have four to six teeth-like bumps. The very tip of the labellum curls downwards. There are also four rows of small bumps, called calli, along the middle of the labellum.
This orchid usually blooms between September and October.
How It Got Its Name
The Gillenbah spider orchid was first officially described in 1997. A botanist named David Jones gave it its scientific name. He wrote about it in a magazine called The Orchadian. The first plant used to describe it was found in the Gillenbah State Forest, near a town called Narrandera.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the Gillenbah spider orchid growing in special forests. These forests are filled with Callitris trees. It lives in the area between Narrandera and Jerilderie. This region is known as the south-west slopes of New South Wales.
