Noble spider orchid facts for kids

Caladenia nobilis, commonly known as the noble spider orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This orchid has a single fuzzy leaf. It also produces one or two large white flowers. These flowers have a unique part called a labellum which is marked with red.

What Does the Noble Spider Orchid Look Like?

The noble spider orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It comes back every year (it's a perennial plant). It loses its leaves in some seasons (it's deciduous). This plant has a special underground storage part called a tuber.

It grows a single, upright, hairy leaf. This leaf is usually about 10 to 18 centimetres (4 to 7 inches) long. It is also about 4 to 8 millimetres (0.16 to 0.31 inches) wide.

One or two white flowers grow on a stalk. This stalk can be 20 to 40 centimetres (8 to 16 inches) tall. The flowers themselves are quite large. They can be 12 to 25 centimetres (5 to 10 inches) long. They are also 10 to 13 centimetres (4 to 5 inches) wide.

The sepals and petals of the flower have long, thin, dark brown tips. These tips look like threads. The top sepal (called the dorsal sepal) stands straight up. It is 6 to 15 centimetres (2 to 6 inches) long. The side sepals (called lateral sepals) are also 6 to 15 centimetres long. They hang downwards with droopy tips. The petals are similar to the side sepals. They are 5 to 14 centimetres (2 to 6 inches) long.

The most interesting part is the labellum. It is cream-coloured and has red lines, spots, and blotches. The labellum is 12 to 25 millimetres (0.47 to 0.98 inches) long. It is also 12 to 16 millimetres (0.47 to 0.63 inches) wide. The sides of the labellum have short, blunt teeth. Its tip is curled underneath. There are two rows of white, anvil-shaped bumps called calli along the middle of the labellum. Sometimes, these calli have red tips. This orchid usually flowers from July to mid-October.

How Did This Orchid Get Its Name?

The noble spider orchid, Caladenia nobilis, was first officially described in 2001. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown, wrote about it. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.

The second part of its scientific name, nobilis, comes from a Latin word. This Latin word means "well-known," "celebrated," or "noble." It was given this name because the flowers are very large and beautiful.

Where Does This Orchid Grow?

The noble spider orchid grows in Western Australia. You can find it in the area between Capel and Kalbarri. This includes several different natural areas. These areas are known as the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, and Swan Coastal Plain.

It likes to grow in many different places. These include woodlands with trees like peppermint and tuart. It also grows on sandy hills that are near salt lakes.

Is This Orchid Endangered?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the noble spider orchid. They have classified Caladenia nobilis as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.