Mohawk spider orchid facts for kids

The Mohawk orchid (scientific name: Caladenia voigtii) is a special type of orchid that only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. It has one tall, hairy leaf and usually just one flower. This flower is often greenish-yellow with red parts. When it was first found in 1977, people thought it was a different orchid that had disappeared. But later, when that other orchid was found somewhere else, this one got its own name: Caladenia voigtii.

What Does the Mohawk Orchid Look Like?

The Mohawk orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It's a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times.

Leaves and Flowers

Each plant has one upright, hairy leaf. This leaf is usually between 5 and 15 centimeters (2-6 inches) long and about 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide.

The plant usually grows just one flower on a stalk. This stalk can be 8 to 20 centimeters (3-8 inches) tall. The flower itself is greenish-yellow with dark red marks. It's about 2 to 3 centimeters (0.8-1.2 inches) long and 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4-0.8 inches) wide.

Flower Parts

Orchids have unique flower parts:

• The dorsal sepal is the top part of the flower. It stands straight up and is 1.4 to 1.8 centimeters long.
• The lateral sepals are the two side parts. They point stiffly downwards.
• The petals are the colorful parts that spread out. They are 1 to 1.5 centimeters long.
• The labellum is a special lip-like petal. It's about 1 to 1.2 centimeters long and wide. It's greenish with faint red lines and shaped like a heart. It has a small, dark red tip that curves downwards.
• Along the middle of the labellum, there are many tall, red-tipped structures called calli.

The Mohawk orchid blooms from August to October.

How Was the Mohawk Orchid Named?

When this orchid was first found near a place called Salmon Gums in 1977, scientists thought it was an orchid called Caladenia cristata. That orchid had been thought to be extinct since 1923!

However, when Caladenia cristata was later found near Miling, scientists realized the Salmon Gums orchid was actually a brand new species.

Official Naming

The Mohawk orchid was officially described in 2001 by two botanists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown. They published their description in a scientific journal called Nuytsia. The specific name voigtii was chosen to honor Don Voigt, the person who first discovered this special orchid.

Where Does the Mohawk Orchid Live?

The Mohawk spider orchid grows in Western Australia, between Bremer Bay and Balladonia. It lives in different types of places, including on rocky granite outcrops and near salt lakes. These areas are part of what scientists call the Coolgardie and Mallee biogeographic regions.

Is the Mohawk Orchid Safe?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the Mohawk orchid. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.