Caladenia aestiva

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Summer spider orchid
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. aestiva
Binomial name
Caladenia aestiva
Synonyms

Caladenia aestiva, commonly known as summer spider orchid, [3] is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid which grows singly or in small groups in the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. It has one or two greenish-yellow to pale yellow flowers, often while the single, hairy leaf withers.

Contents

Description

Caladenia aestiva is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single, sparsely hairy, linear to narrow lance-shaped leaf, 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long and 4–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. The leaf is dull green and reddish near the base and often is withered by the time the flower opens. [3] [4] [5]

One or two flowers are borne on a spike up to 50 cm (20 in) high. The dorsal sepal is erect, linear in shape, 30–55 mm (1–2 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide but abruptly narrowing about half-way towards the tip. The lateral sepals are 30–55 mm (1–2 in) long, about 3.5–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and the petals somewhat shorter and narrower. The petals and sepals narrow abruptly at about their midpoint, linear nearer their bases then thread-like towards the ends. The labellum is linear to egg-shaped when flattened, about 13–17 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide, pale yellow or greenish-yellow, maroon in the central part. There are many short, tooth-like calli along the edges of the labellum and four to six rows of greenish to reddish calli in the centre. The column is 11–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and greenish-yellow, sometimes with a few red marks, and has broad wings. Flowering occurs from December to January and is often stimulated by bushfire. This species has been confused with Caladenia pallida since 1840, but has much larger flowers with somewhat more stiffly-held petals and sepals than C. pallida. [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia aestiva was first formally described by David Jones in 1991 and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research. The type specimen was collected near the road between Benambra and Wulgulmerang. [1] The specific epithet (aestiva) is a Latin word meaning "summer", [6] in reference to the flowering season of this species. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Summer spider orchid is widespread in north-eastern Victoria, growing in sheltered, grassy areas in high-altitude woodlands. In the Australian Capital Territory it is confined to the Brindabella Range. [3] [4] [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Caladenia carnea</i> species of plant

Caladenia carnea, commonly known as pink fingers, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It has a single thin, green leaf and one to five white or pink flowers with red stripes and two rows of yellow-tipped "calli" on their labellum.

<i>Caladenia picta</i> species of plant

Caladenia picta, commonly known as painted fingers, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single, sparsely hairy leaf and a single white or pink flower with a greenish-white back. Unlike many other caladenias, it flowers in autumn.

<i>Caladenia fuscata</i> species of plant

Caladenia fuscata, commonly known as dusky fingers, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is a small ground orchid found in eucalyptus woodland and which flowers in September and October.

Caladenia ambusta, commonly known as the Boranup spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, linear leaf and a single creamy-coloured flower on a stem 27–35 cm (11–14 in) high. It is only known from a relatively small area south-west of Margaret River growing in deep sand in shrubland and woodland and only flowering profusely after fire.

Caladenia argocalla, commonly known as white beauty spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to South Australia. It is a ground orchid which grows singly or in loose groups and has a single, hairy leaf and one or two white to greenish-white flowers on a wiry, hairy stalk. The total population is thought to be between 2,000 and 4,500 and it is classed as an "Endangered" species.

Caladenia atradenia, commonly known as bronze fingers, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New Zealand. It is a ground orchid with a thin, hairy leaf and a thin wiry stem bearing one or two dark green or greenish red flowers with maroon or magenta markings.

Caladenia atroclavia, commonly known as the black-clubbed spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Queensland. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and a pale greenish-cream coloured flower with dark purple clubs and red patches on the petals.

<i>Caladenia attingens</i> species of plant

Caladenia attingens, commonly known as mantis orchids, are plants in the orchid family Orchidaceae and are endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. There are three subspecies, each of which has a single hairy leaf and one or two brightly coloured flowers with upswept sepals and a labellum with long, comb-like fringes. The subspecies differ in size, distribution and habitat.

Caladenia bicalliata subsp. bicalliata, commonly known as the limestone spider orchid or dwarf limestone spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is native to the south-west of Western Australia and coastal areas of South Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and one or two cream-coloured flowers with reddish-brown tips.

<i>Caladenia clarkiae</i> species of plant

Caladenia clarkiae, commonly known as pink caps, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid which grows singly or in small groups in Victoria and New South Wales. It has a single leaf and usually one or two white to pale pink flowers with darker pink tips.

Caladenia cleistantha is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-east of Australia. It is a ground orchid which occurs as solitary plants and has a singly hairy leaf and one or two cleistogamous flowers..

Caladenia cretacea, commonly known as Stuart Mill spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to a small area in Victoria. It is a rare ground orchid with a single leaf and one or two white flowers on a hairy stalk.

<i>Caladenia cucullata</i> species of plant

Caladenia cucullata, commonly known as the hooded caladenia, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single, sparsely hairy leaf, and up to seven white flowers with a purplish labellum.

<i>Caladenia curtisepala</i> species of plant

Caladenia curtisepala, commonly known as short-hooded fingers, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf, and a single white to cream-coloured flower with a white labellum with red bands.

<i>Caladenia doutchiae</i> species of plant

Caladenia doutchiae, commonly known as the purple-veined clown orchid or purple-veined spider orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and usually only one greenish-yellow and red flower with short, downswept petals, and lateral sepals that are broad at the base then narrow to a glandular tip.

Caladenia helvina, commonly known as the summer spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and usually a single greenish-yellow to pale yellow flower with reddish teeth on the sides of the labellum and reddish calli along its mid-line.

<i>Caladenia hillmanii</i> species of plant

Caladenia hillmanii, commonly known as purple-heart fingers, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and one or two bright pink flowers with a reddish-purple labellum with darker bars.

Caladenia peisleyi is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and a single greenish-yellow flower with pale red stripes. It is difficult to distinguish from several other Caladenia species.

Caladenia richardsiorum, commonly known as the little dip spider orchid, Richards' spider orchid or robe spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to South Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single erect, hairy leaf and usually only one yellowish-green flower. It is similar to the endangered Mellblom's spider orchid but has a much larger leaf and the petals lack glandular tips.

Caladenia fuliginosa is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and a single relatively large, creamy-yellow flower, sometimes with reddish lines. The flowers have a smell resembling hot metal.

References

  1. 1 2 "Caladenia aestiva". APNI. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  2. "Arachnorchis aestiva". APNI. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jeanes, Jeffrey. "Caladenia aestiva". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: Vicflora. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L. (1991). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 2: 14–15.
  5. 1 2 3 Bernhardt, Peter. "Caladenia aestiva". Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney: plantNET. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 871.