Puppet clown orchid facts for kids

The Puppet Clown Orchid, also known by its scientific name Caladenia incrassata, is a special type of orchid. It only grows naturally in the south-west part of Western Australia. This unique flower has one fuzzy leaf and usually just one greenish-yellow and red bloom. It also has a special lip, called a labellum, with red stripes.

What Does the Puppet Clown Orchid Look Like?

The Puppet Clown Orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage lump. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off during certain seasons.

This orchid has a single, upright, hairy leaf. This leaf is usually about 100–150 mm (4–6 in) long and 8 mm (0.3 in) wide.

The Flower's Features

Usually, just one flower grows on a stalk that stands 150–300 mm (6–10 in) tall. The flower itself is greenish-yellow and red, measuring 30–50 mm (1–2 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) wide.

Orchids have parts called sepals, which are like outer leaves that protect the flower. All three sepals on this orchid have thick, club-shaped tips that are pinkish to yellowish.

• The top sepal, called the dorsal sepal, stands up straight or sometimes curves forward. It's about 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide.
• The two side sepals, called lateral sepals, are 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide.
• The petals, which are usually the colorful parts of a flower, are 13–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide.

The most interesting part is the labellum, which is the orchid's special lip. It's 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long and 12–13 mm (0.47–0.51 in) wide. The labellum is yellowish-green to pinkish with a red tip that points downwards. Its edges are smooth. In the middle of the labellum, there's a thick band of purplish-red bumps called calli, which can be up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long.

This orchid blooms during the months of August and September.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The Caladenia incrassata was first officially described in 2001. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown, found a sample of this orchid near a place called Koolyanobbing. They published their description in a scientific journal called Nuytsia.

The second part of its scientific name, incrassata, comes from a Latin word. It means "thickened." This name was chosen because of the thick sepals on this orchid. For example, a similar orchid, Caladenia brevisura, has sepals that are not as thick.

Where Does This Orchid Live?

The Puppet Clown Orchid grows in a specific area of Western Australia. You can find it between towns like Paynes Find and Southern Cross.

It prefers to grow under shrubs on rocky areas made of granite. It also likes to grow on hills where there is ironstone. These areas are part of several natural regions in Western Australia.

Is the Orchid Safe?

Good news! The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Caladenia incrassata as "not threatened." This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.