Ray spider orchid facts for kids

The ray spider orchid, also known as Caladenia radiata, is a special type of orchid. It is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area. It has one tall, hairy leaf and usually one or two flowers. These flowers are a mix of green, yellow, and red. This orchid often blooms more after a bushfire. It likes to grow in wet, swampy places, sometimes even flowering when it's standing in water!

What the Ray Spider Orchid Looks Like

The ray spider 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 also loses its leaves each year, which makes it deciduous.

Its Leaf and Stem

Each plant has one leaf that stands straight up. This leaf is quite hairy. It can be about 10 to 25 centimeters (4 to 10 inches) long. The leaf is also very thin, only about 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) wide. The flowers grow on a stalk that can be 30 to 45 centimeters (12 to 18 inches) tall.

Its Unique Flowers

The ray spider orchid usually has one or two flowers. Each flower is about 6 to 9 centimeters (2 to 3.5 inches) long. They are also about 5 to 6 centimeters (2 to 2.4 inches) wide. The flowers are a mix of green, yellow, and red colors.

Sepals and Petals

The flower has parts called sepals and petals. The sepals have thin, brown, club-shaped tips. These tips are about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters (0.6 to 1 inch) long. The top sepal stands straight up. It is about 4 to 6.5 centimeters (1.6 to 2.6 inches) long. The side sepals and petals are similar in size. They point stiffly downwards.

The Labellum

The labellum is a special lip-like part of the orchid flower. It is about 1.2 to 1.5 centimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long and wide. The labellum is green with a dark red tip that curls downwards. The sides of the labellum have upright, thin parts up to 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. There are also four rows of dark red, crowded bumps called calli along the middle of the labellum. This orchid blooms from October to early December.

How the Ray Spider Orchid Got Its Name

The ray spider orchid was first officially described in 1948. A scientist named William Nicholls found a sample of the plant near a place called Yarloop in Western Australia. He wrote about it in a science magazine called The Victorian Naturalist.

Meaning of radiata

The second part of its scientific name, radiata, comes from a Latin word. The word radius means "ray," "rod," or "spoke." This name was chosen because of the spreading, ray-like parts on the sides of the labellum.

Where the Ray Spider Orchid Lives

You can find the ray spider orchid in Western Australia. It grows in the area between Yarloop and Albany. This includes several natural regions like the Avon Wheatbelt and Jarrah Forest. It loves wet, swampy areas. Sometimes, you can even see it flowering when its roots are in standing water!

Protecting the Ray Spider Orchid

The good news is that the Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife says the ray spider orchid is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.