Mellblom's spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mellblom's spider orchid |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
hastata
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis hastata (Nicholls) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Caladenia hastata, also known as Mellblom's spider orchid, is a special type of plant. It belongs to the orchid family and grows only in Victoria, Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
This orchid grows from the ground and has one fuzzy leaf. It usually has one to three flowers that are white or cream-colored. These flowers often have red marks on their special lip, called a labellum.
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About Mellblom's Spider Orchid
The Mellblom's spider orchid is a plant that lives for many years. It grows from an underground part called a tuber, which is like a small storage root. It has one hairy leaf that is about 80 to 120 millimeters (3 to 4.7 inches) long. This leaf is usually 2 to 10 millimeters (0.08 to 0.4 inches) wide and might have a few red spots near its base.
The orchid usually has one flower, but sometimes it can have up to three. These flowers grow on a tall stem that is about 250 to 350 millimeters (10 to 14 inches) high. The flowers are white or cream-colored and can have red marks.
Flower Parts
The parts of the flower, called sepals and petals, spread out wide. They have dark brown, club-shaped tips that are a bit sticky. The top sepal, called the dorsal sepal, stands up straight. It is about 30 to 40 millimeters (1.2 to 1.6 inches) long and curves forward.
The side sepals are also 30 to 40 millimeters long. The petals are a bit shorter, about 20 to 30 millimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) long.
The most interesting part is the labellum, which is the orchid's special lip. It is about 14 to 16 millimeters (0.55 to 0.63 inches) long and curves forward. This labellum is white or creamy-white. It has many small, purplish teeth along its sides, which can be up to 2 millimeters long. There are also four to six rows of small bumps, called calli, in the middle of the labellum.
Mellblom's spider orchids usually bloom in October and November.
How it Got its Name
This orchid was first officially described in 1942 by a person named William Nicholls. He gave it the name Arachnorchis patersonii var. hastata. This description was published in a science magazine called The Victorian Naturalist.
Later that same year, another scientist named Herman Rupp changed its name to Caladenia hastata. This change was also published in The Victorian Naturalist. The word hastata comes from Latin and means "spear-shaped" or "armed with a spear." This name likely refers to the shape of some part of the orchid.
Where it Lives and Grows
The Mellblom's spider orchid grows in thick coastal areas near Portland, Australia. Before 1950, people thought it was quite common there. However, it was later believed to have disappeared completely.
Luckily, some plants were found again at a place called Point Danger. But even there, the number of plants dropped. In 1996, only six plants were counted!
Thanks to special efforts to protect them, the number of these orchids has grown a lot. Now, there are about 740 plants found in five different groups.
Protecting the Orchid
The Mellblom's spider orchid is considered "endangered." This means it is at a high risk of disappearing forever. It is protected by two important laws:
- The Victorian Government's Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
- The Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
These laws help protect the orchid and its habitat.
Threats to the Orchid
There are several things that threaten the survival of this special orchid:
- Weed Invasion: Other plants, especially Acacia longifolia (coast wattle) and Chrysanthemoides monilifera (boneseed), can grow too much and take over the orchid's space.
- Road Maintenance: Work done on roads nearby can disturb the orchid's habitat.
- Pollution: Pollution from a nearby aluminum factory can also harm the plants.
Protecting this orchid means managing these threats so it can continue to grow and thrive.
