Pale pink fairy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pale pink fairy |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Caladenia |
| Species: |
C. reptans
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| Subspecies: |
C. r. subsp. impensa
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| Trinomial name | |
| Caladenia reptans subsp. impensa Hopper & A.P.Br.
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| Synonyms | |
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Caladenia preissii Endl. |
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The pale pink fairy (scientific name: Caladenia reptans subsp. impensa) is a beautiful type of orchid. It belongs to the orchid family and is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This special plant has a single fuzzy leaf and can grow up to three pale pink flowers. Its flowers have a unique part called a labellum with three clear sections. The pale pink fairy is similar to another orchid, subspecies reptans, but its leaf is green on both sides, and its flowers are bigger and grow on a taller stem.
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What Does the Pale Pink Fairy Look Like?
The pale pink fairy orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years, and it's also deciduous, so some parts die back each year. It has an underground tuber (like a small potato) and a single, hairy leaf. This leaf is 60–150 mm (2–6 in) long and 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide, and it's green on both sides.
Up to three pale pink flowers grow on a stem that is 150–250 mm (6–10 in) tall. Each flower is about 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long and wide. The top petal, called the dorsal sepal, stands straight up. The side petals, called lateral sepals, are about the same size. The other petals and lateral sepals spread out like a fan.
The special lower lip of the flower, called the labellum, has three distinct parts. The two side parts of the labellum are smooth. However, the middle part has a dark pink tip and between four and ten small teeth along its sides. There are also two rows of thick bumps, called calli, running down the center of the labellum. These orchids usually bloom from July to August.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Caladenia reptans orchid was first described in 1840 by a person named John Lindley. He wrote about it in a book called A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony. Later, in 2001, two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown, described two different types (subspecies) of this orchid. One of these was subspecies impensa. They published their findings in a scientific journal called Nuytsia.
The name impensa comes from a Latin word that means "ample," "great," or "large." This name was chosen because this subspecies is bigger than the other type, subspecies reptans.
Where Does It Live?
The pale pink fairy orchid is found in Western Australia. It grows in the area between Geraldton and a place called Eurardy Station, which is north of the Murchison River. This region is known as the Geraldton Sandplains. The orchid likes to grow in woodland areas and scrubland, which are places with trees and bushes.
Protecting the Pale Pink Fairy
Good news! The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Caladenia reptans subsp. impensa as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these beautiful orchids, and they are not considered to be in danger.
