Heberle's spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heberle's spider orchid |
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| Caladenia heberleana growing near Hopetoun | |
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Caladenia
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heberleana
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Caladenia heberleana, also known as Heberle's spider orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This plant has a single, fuzzy leaf. It can also grow up to three flowers. These flowers are usually red, white, and light yellow. They have a unique white tip that is red, called a labellum.
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What Heberle's Spider Orchid Looks Like
Heberle's spider orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It also loses its leaves each year. The plant has one straight, hairy leaf that is about 8 to 20 centimeters (3 to 8 inches) long and 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) wide.
The plant grows a stalk that is about 20 to 45 centimeters (8 to 18 inches) tall. On this stalk, up to three flowers appear. Each flower is about 8 to 12 centimeters (3 to 5 inches) long and 6 to 12 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) wide. The flowers are a mix of red, white, and light yellow.
Flower Parts
The flowers have parts called sepals and petals that spread out. These parts have thick, club-shaped tips. The side sepals and petals spread wide and point downwards. The top sepal stands straight up. It is about 4 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. The side sepals are also 4 to 10 centimeters long. The petals are about 4 to 8.5 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) long.
The labellum (the special lip of the orchid) is white. It is about 1.7 to 2.6 centimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) long and 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide. Its tip is maroon and curls underneath. The sides of the labellum have spreading teeth up to 0.5 centimeters (0.2 inches) long. There are also four rows of pale to deep red bumps, called calli, along the center of the labellum. These calli can be up to 0.3 centimeters (0.1 inches) long.
Heberle's spider orchid usually flowers from September to October.
Where Heberle's Spider Orchid Lives
Heberle's spider orchid grows in an area between Augusta and Cape Arid in Western Australia. You can find it in regions known as the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, and Mallee.
This orchid usually grows in deep, sandy soil within woodlands. Its flowering can be encouraged by summer fires. However, you can also find flowering plants in areas that are swampy during winter, even if there haven't been recent fires.
Conservation Status
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Caladenia heberleana is "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
