Starts' spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Starts' spider orchid |
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Caladenia
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startiorum
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The Starts' spider orchid (scientific name: Caladenia startiorum) is a special type of orchid. It only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. This orchid has one tall, hairy leaf. It can also have up to three pink flowers. These flowers have a unique part called a labellum with long, tooth-like fringes. The tips of its sepals look like small, club-shaped glands and are pinkish-brown.
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What the Starts' Spider Orchid Looks Like
The Starts' spider orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It has an underground tuber (like a small potato) and one upright, hairy leaf. This leaf is about 10 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches) long and 7 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide.
Up to three pink flowers grow on a stalk. This stalk can be 20 to 60 centimeters (8 to 24 inches) tall. Each flower is about 7 to 10 centimeters (3 to 4 inches) long and 6 to 9 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) wide. The sepals and petals of the flower have thick, pinkish to brown tips that look like small glands.
Flower Parts
The dorsal sepal (the one at the top) stands straight up. It is about 40 to 55 millimeters (1.6 to 2.2 inches) long and 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) wide. The lateral sepals (the two on the sides) are about the same size. They spread out and then their tips curve downwards.
The petals are about 30 to 35 millimeters (1.2 to 1.4 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) wide. They are arranged like the lateral sepals.
The labellum is a special lip-like part of the flower. It is 19 to 25 millimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) long and 10 to 12 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) wide. It can be white, light pink, or deep pink. The sides of the labellum have narrow red "teeth" up to 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. The very tip of the labellum curls underneath. There are also four rows of pink bumps, called calli, up to 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long, running down the middle of the labellum.
When it Flowers
Starts' spider orchids usually bloom from September to October. They flower even more after summer fires.
How the Orchid Got its Name
Caladenia startiorum was first officially described in 2001. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown, found a specimen near the northern edge of the Mount Lindesay National Park. They published their description in a scientific journal called Nuytsia.
The name startiorum was chosen to honor the Start family. They were very interested in Australian orchids and were the ones who first discovered this species.
Where the Starts' Spider Orchid Lives
The Starts' spider orchid is found between Mount Barker and the Porongurup National Park. It grows in areas with moist heath (a type of shrubland) and nearby woodlands. It also lives in dense, shrubby forests. These areas are part of the Jarrah Forest biogeographic region.
Protecting the Starts' Spider Orchid
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Caladenia startiorum as "Priority Two". This means that not much is known about this orchid. It has only been found in one or a few locations, so it needs special attention to protect it.
