Shy spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shy spider orchid |
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| Caladenia × triangularis growing in Wandoo National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
× triangularis
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The shy spider orchid (scientific name: Caladenia × triangularis) is a special type of plant. It belongs to the orchid family. This orchid grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It has one fuzzy leaf and usually up to three light yellow flowers. This orchid is a natural hybrid. It formed from two other orchid types: the cowslip orchid and C. longicauda. The shy spider orchid is quite rare. You can find it between the cities of Perth and Esperance.
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What the Shy Spider Orchid Looks Like
The shy spider orchid is a ground-dwelling plant. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times. This plant is a herb with a special underground part called a tuber. It has one hairy leaf that is about 50 to 100 millimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. The leaf is also about 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide.
The orchid grows a stem that is about 100 to 250 millimeters (4 to 10 inches) tall. On this stem, you can find up to three pale yellow flowers. Each flower is about 50 to 70 millimeters (2 to 3 inches) wide. The petals and side sepals of the flower spread out wide. The labellum (which is a special lip-like petal) is quite small. It has a short fringe around its edge. There are also four or more rows of small bumps, called calli, along its middle. These orchids usually bloom from August to October.
How the Shy Spider Orchid Got Its Name
The shy spider orchid, Caladenia × triangularis, was first officially described in 1927. A scientist named Richard Sanders Rogers described it. He found a sample of the plant between Wagin and Narrogin. His description was published in a scientific journal called Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia.
The second part of its scientific name, triangularis, tells us something about the orchid. It refers to the triangle-like shape of the labellum (the lip petal) of this orchid.
Where the Shy Spider Orchid Lives
The shy spider orchid grows in areas with woodland and shrubland. You can find it in Western Australia, between Perth and Esperance. These areas are part of special natural regions. They are called the Avon Wheatbelt and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions.
Protecting the Shy Spider Orchid
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants like the shy spider orchid. They have classified Caladenia × triangularis as "Priority Four". This means the orchid is rare. It is also considered near threatened, so efforts are made to protect it.
