Stark white spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stark white spider orchid |
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| Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens growing near Moora |
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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: | |
| Subspecies: |
C. l. subsp. eminens
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| Trinomial name | |
| Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens Hopper & A.P.Br.
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis longicauda subsp.eminens (Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Stark White Spider Orchid (its scientific name is Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens) is a special type of orchid. It belongs to the amazing Orchidaceae family. This orchid is found only in the southwest part of Western Australia. This means it is "endemic" to that area.
This unique plant has one fuzzy leaf. It also grows up to three large, bright white flowers. These flowers have long, wide parts that spread out, called sepals and petals. The flower also has a wide "labellum," which is a special lip-like petal. This labellum has short, narrow teeth. The Stark White Spider Orchid is quite common. You can find it mainly between the towns of Tenterden and Jerramungup.
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What Does the Stark White Spider Orchid Look Like?
The Stark White Spider Orchid is a plant that grows on land. It is a "perennial" plant, meaning it lives for many years. It is also "deciduous," which means it loses its leaves at certain times. This plant is a "herb," which means it has soft stems, not woody ones. It grows from an underground "tuber," which is like a small potato.
Each plant has one hairy leaf. This leaf is about 12 to 25 centimeters (5 to 10 inches) long. It is also about 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) wide. The plant grows a tall stem, about 30 to 60 centimeters (12 to 24 inches) high. On this stem, you will find up to three bright white flowers. Each flower is quite large, about 10 to 18 centimeters (4 to 7 inches) long and 8 to 12 centimeters (3 to 5 inches) wide.
The top part of the flower is called the dorsal sepal. It stands straight up. The side parts, called lateral sepals, are long. They measure about 9 to 14 centimeters (3.5 to 5.5 inches). The petals are narrower, about 0.3 to 0.6 centimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. The labellum, or lip, of the flower is white and more than 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) wide. The column, which is part of the flower's reproductive system, is less than 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) long. In the middle of the labellum, there are four or more rows of small, pale red bumps called "calli." These orchids usually bloom from August to early October.
How Was This Orchid Named?
The first time the Caladenia longicauda orchid was officially described was in 1840. A scientist named John Lindley wrote about it. Later, in 2001, two other scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown, studied it more closely. They described eleven different types, or "subspecies," of this orchid. One of these was subspecies eminens.
The name eminens comes from a Latin word. It means "prominent" or "illustrious." This name was chosen because the flowers of this particular orchid are very attractive and stand out!
Where Does the Stark White Spider Orchid Live?
The Stark White Spider Orchid mostly grows between the towns of Tenterden and Jerramungup in Western Australia. However, you can also find it further east, near Esperance. It also grows as far north as Moora.
This orchid likes to grow in woodlands. It often lives among wandoo trees (which are a type of Eucalyptus wandoo) and yate trees (Eucalyptus cornuta). These areas are part of several natural regions in Western Australia.
Protecting the Stark White Spider Orchid
Good news! The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that the Stark White Spider Orchid is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
