Magnificent spider orchid facts for kids

Caladenia magnifica, commonly known as the magnificent spider orchid, is a type of orchid that grew only in Victoria, Australia. It had a single leaf and one or two beautiful reddish-crimson or yellow flowers. These flowers were streaked with crimson and had dark reddish tips. Sadly, this orchid has not been seen since 1979 and is thought to be extinct, meaning it no longer exists anywhere in the world.

What the Magnificent Spider Orchid Looked Like

The magnificent spider orchid was a perennial plant. This means it lived for more than two years. It was a herb that grew from an underground tuber. Think of a tuber like a small, round storage part, similar to a potato. The plant had one straight leaf. This leaf was about 100–150 mm (4–6 in) long and 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) wide.

One or two flowers grew on a stalk. This stalk was about 200–300 mm (8–10 in) tall. The flowers were quite large, about 70–100 mm (3–4 in) wide. They could be reddish-crimson or yellow, often with crimson streaks. The sepals and petals of the flower had long, dark reddish, thread-like tips.

The sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. The top sepal, called the dorsal sepal, stood upright. It was about 70–100 mm (3–4 in) long. The two side sepals spread out and drooped at their ends. They were also about 70–100 mm (3–4 in) long. The petals were similar to the side sepals. They were about 60–80 mm (2–3 in) long.

The most interesting part was the labellum. This is a special lip-like petal found in orchids. The labellum of this orchid was dark reddish-purple. It was about 18–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long and 16–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in) wide. The tip of the labellum curled under. Its sides turned up and had many purplish teeth. These teeth could be up to 4 mm (0.2 in) long. In the center of the labellum, there were four or six rows of reddish-purple bumps. These bumps are called calli and were up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long. This orchid flowered from September to October.

How it Got its Name

The magnificent spider orchid was first described in 1936. A scientist named William Nicholls gave it its first scientific name. He called it Caladenia patersonii var. magnifica. His description was published in a journal called The Victorian Naturalist.

Later, in 1989, two other scientists, David Jones and Geoffrey Carr, decided it was unique enough to be its own species. They officially changed its name to Caladenia magnifica. The word magnifica comes from Latin. It means "noble," "eminent," or "splendid." This name perfectly describes its beautiful and striking appearance.

Where it Lived

The magnificent spider orchid was found only in a small area. This area was near the town of Guildford in central Victoria, Australia. It grew in open forests. These forests had a sparse undergrowth, meaning not many small plants grew beneath the trees.

As mentioned, this orchid has not been seen since 1979. Because of this, scientists believe it is now extinct.

Conservation Status

The Caladenia magnifica is officially listed as "extinct." This classification is under the Victorian Government's Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. This act helps protect plants and animals in Victoria. When a species is classified as extinct, it means there is no doubt that the last individual of that species has died.