Lake Muir blood orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Muir blood orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
erythrochila
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| Synonyms | |
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The Lake Muir blood orchid is a special type of orchid that grows only in a small part of Western Australia. Its scientific name is Caladenia erythrochila. People also call it the Lake Muir spider orchid or Harry's little red spider orchid.
This unique plant has a single, fuzzy leaf. Its flowers are mostly a deep blood red color. They have long, thin parts that look like threads, called sepals and petals. Sometimes, the central part of the flower, called the labellum, has white spots.
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What Does the Lake Muir Blood Orchid Look Like?
The Lake Muir blood orchid is a plant that grows from the ground and comes back each year. It has an underground storage part called a tuber. From this tuber grows one upright, hairy leaf, which is about 7 to 9 centimeters (about 3 to 3.5 inches) long and 2 to 4 millimeters (about 0.08 to 0.16 inches) wide.
The plant usually has one or two blood-red flowers. These flowers are about 6 to 8 centimeters (about 2.4 to 3.1 inches) long and 5 to 6 centimeters (about 2 to 2.4 inches) wide. They grow on a stalk that is about 20 to 25 centimeters (about 8 to 10 inches) tall.
Flower Parts
The sepals and petals of the flower are blood red. Near their base, they spread out almost flat, but then they become very thin and droop downwards like wisps.
- The dorsal sepal (the one at the top) stands upright. It is about 3.5 to 4 centimeters (about 1.4 to 1.6 inches) long.
- The lateral sepals (the two side ones) are about 4.5 to 5 centimeters (about 1.8 to 2 inches) long.
- The petals are about 3 to 3.5 centimeters (about 1.2 to 1.4 inches) long.
The labellum is the special lip-like part in the center of the orchid. It is about 5.5 to 6 millimeters (about 0.22 to 0.24 inches) long and 2.5 to 3 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.12 inches) wide. It is blood red, but often has white marks. The edges of the labellum have small, pointed teeth. In the middle, there are two rows of red to cream-colored bumps, called calli, which look like tiny anvils.
This orchid blooms from September to early October.
How It Was Named
The Lake Muir blood orchid was first officially described in 2001 by two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown. They found a sample of the plant near a town called Manjimup. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The scientific name erythrochila comes from ancient Greek words:
- Erythros means "red."
- Cheilos means "lip."
This name perfectly describes the orchid's blood-red labellum, or "lip."
Where Does It Live?
The Lake Muir blood orchid is very rare. It is only found in two places near Lake Muir and Lake Nunijup. These lakes are close to a town called Frankland in Western Australia. It grows in forests where jarrah trees are common, especially in soil that is rich in iron, called laterite.
Protecting the Lake Muir Blood Orchid
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed Caladenia erythrochila as "Priority Two". This means that we don't know much about this orchid, and it is only found in one or a few places. Because it is so rare, it needs special protection to make sure it doesn't disappear.
