Sagg spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sagg spider orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
saggicola
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The Caladenia saggicola, often called the sagg spider orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in Tasmania, Australia. This plant has one hairy leaf that stands up tall. It produces one or two white flowers. These flowers have very light reddish lines and black tips, which makes them look a bit like a spider.
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About the Sagg Spider Orchid
The sagg spider orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant has an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root. From this tuber grows a single, hairy leaf. This leaf is about 40–130 mm (2–5 in) long and 3–8 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide.
What the Flowers Look Like
The sagg spider orchid produces one or two flowers on a stalk. This stalk can be 150–350 mm (6–10 in) tall. Each flower is about 50–70 mm (2–3 in) wide. The flowers are mostly white with very light reddish lines. The parts of the flower that look like petals are called sepals and petals. They have long, thin tips that are grey to black.
The top sepal, called the dorsal sepal, is 30–60 mm (1–2 in) long. It hangs down. The side sepals, called lateral sepals, are also 30–60 mm (1–2 in) long. They spread out wide but their tips droop. The petals are 30–40 mm (1–2 in) long and spread out like the side sepals.
The most interesting part is the labellum. This is the orchid's special lip. It is 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide. It is white or cream-colored. The sides of the labellum have small teeth, up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long. The very tip of the labellum curls under. There are also four to six rows of small bumps, called calli, along the middle of the labellum. These calli are up to 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long.
When Does it Flower?
The sagg spider orchid usually blooms between September and October.
How the Orchid Got its Name
The sagg spider orchid, Caladenia saggicola, was first officially described in 1998. It was named by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the orchid near a place called Cambridge. The name saggicola comes from the common name "sagg." This name is sometimes given to another plant called Lomatia longifolia. This is because the Lomatia longifolia often grows in the same areas as the sagg spider orchid, forming a thick layer of plants underneath the trees.
Where the Sagg Spider Orchid Lives
The sagg spider orchid is quite rare. It is only found in two main areas in Tasmania: near Cambridge and near Dodges Ferry. It grows in open woodlands. These woodlands have a thick layer of plants underneath the trees, especially tussocks of Lomandra longifolia.
Protecting the Sagg Spider Orchid
The Caladenia saggicola is considered "critically endangered." This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. This classification is under a special law in Australia called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act.
There are only about 450 sagg spider orchid plants known to exist near Cambridge. Even fewer, only three, are known near Dodges Ferry. The biggest danger to these orchids is new buildings and developments happening nearby. Both groups of orchids grow on private land. However, the main areas where they live are carefully looked after and protected.
Other dangers to the sagg spider orchid include uncontrolled bushfires or not enough fires (which can affect how the plants grow), long periods without rain (drought), and rabbits eating the plants. To help protect them, the main habitat is managed very carefully. Part of the area is even fenced to keep rabbits out.
