Hidden spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hidden spider orchid |
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The Corybas cryptanthus, also known as the hidden spider orchid or icky, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in New Zealand. This plant is quite unusual because it doesn't have clear leaves. Its flower is usually white and often stays hidden under dead leaves on the ground. You usually only spot this orchid when its fruit capsule appears. This capsule grows on a stem that can stretch up to 280 mm (about 11 inches) tall.
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About the Hidden Spider Orchid
The hidden spider orchid is a terrestrial plant, meaning it grows in the ground. It's a perennial plant, so it lives for more than two years. This orchid is also a saprophyte. This means it gets its food from dead or decaying plant material, like old leaves.
Its leaves are very tiny, like small triangles. They are found on horizontal roots called rhizoids, which are buried in the leaf litter.
The Flower
The orchid usually has one flower. It can be whitish to pinkish, often with red or purple stripes.
- The dorsal sepal (the top part of the flower) is 10–14 mm long and shaped like a spear.
- The lateral sepals (side parts) and petals are thin and thread-like. The lateral sepals are longer than the petals. They sometimes poke out above the leaf litter.
- The labellum (the orchid's special lip) is up to 15 mm long. Its end has many branched parts covered with tiny hairs called cilia.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Hidden spider orchids flower from June to October. After flowering, the stem that holds the flower grows much longer. This helps the fruit capsule, which holds the seeds, rise up to 280 mm (about 11 inches) above the ground. This makes it easier for the seeds to spread.
Naming the Orchid
Edwin Daniel Hatch first officially described this orchid in 1951. He named it Corybas saprophyticus. However, he didn't know that this name had already been used for a different orchid. Because of this, the name was not allowed.
In 1956, Hatch changed the name to Corybas cryptanthus. Both his first description and the corrected one were published in a science journal called Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. The name cryptanthus comes from ancient Greek words: kryptos means "hidden" or "secret," and anthos means "flower." So, the name means "hidden flower."
Where it Lives
The hidden spider orchid likes to grow in thick shrubland and tall forests. It prefers to live in leaf litter that has started to break down. You can find this orchid on the North Island, South Island, and Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands in New Zealand.
How it Gets Food
Scientists think that Corybas cryptanthus might be partly a parasite. This means it might get some of its food from other living things. It is believed to get nutrients from the roots of southern beech trees. It does this with the help of a fungus. The fungus connects to both the orchid and the tree, helping the orchid get what it needs.
