Toothed spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toothed spider orchid |
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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: |
C. leptochila
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| Subspecies: |
C. l. subsp. dentata
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| Trinomial name | |
| Caladenia leptochila subsp. dentata (D.L.Jones) R.J.Bates
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis leptochila subsp. dentata D.L.Jones |
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The Toothed Spider Orchid (its scientific name is Caladenia leptochila subsp. dentata) is a special type of flower. It's also called the narrow-lipped spider-orchid or narrow-lipped caladenia. This amazing plant belongs to the orchid family. It grows only in South Australia, which means it's endemic there. It has one leaf and usually one or two reddish-brown flowers. This orchid is different from other similar orchids because of its flower color, its "toothed" lip, and where it grows.
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What Does the Toothed Spider Orchid Look Like?
The Toothed Spider Orchid is a ground plant. This means it grows in the soil, not on other plants. It is also a perennial plant, so it lives for more than two years. Every year, its leaves fall off (it's deciduous), but it grows back from a special underground part. This part is called a tuber, which is like a small potato.
This orchid usually grows alone or in small groups. It has one leaf that is covered in tiny hairs. The leaf is long and narrow, about 40 to 140 mm (1.6 to 5.5 inches) long.
The orchid has one or two flowers that are reddish-brown and yellowish-green. These flowers grow on a tall stem, which can be 150 to 450 mm (5.9 to 17.7 inches) high.
Flower Parts
The flowers have special parts called sepals and petals.
- The sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. They have thin, club-like tips that are 5 to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long.
- The top sepal (called the dorsal sepal) curves forward. It is about 25 to 30 mm (1.0 to 1.2 inches) long.
- The two side sepals (called lateral sepals) are similar in size and point straight up.
- The petals are the colorful parts of the flower. They are about 20 to 25 mm (0.8 to 1.0 inches) long. They are curved like a sickle and point upwards, ending in a thin tip.
The Labellum
The labellum is a special lip-like petal on the orchid. It is oblong or wide and lance-shaped. It measures about 11 to 13 mm (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long and about 4.5 mm (0.2 inches) wide. The labellum is dark reddish-brown, and its tip is rolled under.
One cool thing about this orchid is the "teeth" on its labellum. It has many short teeth along its sides. There are also four rows of small bumps, called calli, along the center of the labellum.
This orchid usually blooms from October to November.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Toothed Spider Orchid was first officially described in 2006 by a scientist named David Jones. He gave it the name Arachnorchis leptochila subsp. dentata. He wrote about it in a book called Australian Orchid Research. He studied a plant he found in Alligator Gorge.
Later, in 2008, another scientist named Robert Bates changed its name to Caladenia leptochila subsp. dentata. This new name was published in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden.
The last part of its scientific name, dentata, comes from a Latin word. It means "toothed" or "pointed." This name was chosen because of the small teeth found on the edges of the orchid's labellum.
Where Does It Live?
The Toothed Spider Orchid lives in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. It likes to grow on forest slopes, usually under shrubs. You can find it at high places, between 700 and 800 meters (2,300 to 2,600 feet) above sea level.
