Caladenia amplexans

Last updated

Dainty blue china orchid
Caladenia amplexans.jpg
Caladenia amplexans growing near Burracoppin
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. amplexans
Binomial name
Caladenia amplexans
Synonyms [1]

Caladenia amplexans, commonly known as dainty blue china orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a relatively broad leaf and one or two pale blue and white flowers. It is distinguished from the other two similar blue orchids by the sides of the labellum which curve over the column and almost touch. This species also has a more inland distribution than C. aperta and C. sericea .

Contents

Description

Caladenia amplexans is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single flat, hairy leaf, 40–100 mm (2–4 in) long and 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide which often lies flat on the ground. One or two pale blue and white flowers about 20 mm (0.8 in) long and wide are borne on a stalk 120–250 mm (5–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is more or less erect, 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. The lateral sepals and petals have about the same dimensions as the dorsal sepal although the petals are slightly wider. The labellum is 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and dark blue with fine darker lines and spots. The sides of the labellum curve upwards, surrounding the column and almost touching. The labellum has a short, more or less triangular down-curved tip with about five short teeth on each side and there are two rows of cream-coloured calli along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from August to early October. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia amplexans was first formally described in 1984 by Alex George in the journal Nuytsia from specimens was collected near Wubin. [5] The specific epithet (amplexans) is a Latin adjective meaning "encircling" or "embracing" and refers to the way the labellum lobes surround the column. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Dainty blue china orchid is found in a broad area from Norseman to north of Kalbarri, growing in a range of drier habitats including the edges of salt lakes and rocky hills. [2] [3] [4] [7]

Conservation

Caladenia amplexans (as Cyanicula amplexans) is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Caladenia integra</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia integra, commonly known as the smooth-lipped spider orchid, is a species of plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It can be distinguished by its distinctive smooth-edged labellum and its upswept lateral sepals.

<i>Pheladenia</i> Genus of orchids

Pheladenia deformis, commonly known as blue fairy orchid or blue beard is the only species of the flowering plant genus Pheladenia in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. It was originally named as Caladenia deformis and has since had several name changes. Plants have a single, narrow, hairy leaf and usually blue flowers with relatively short, broad sepals and petals and an unusual labellum.

<i>Caladenia dimidia</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia dimidia, commonly known as the chameleon orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and one or two yellow, cream-coloured or pinkish flowers. It is a variable species, similar to the Joseph's spider orchid but has a more northerly distribution and smaller flowers.

<i>Caladenia cruscula</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia cruscula, commonly known as the reclining spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and a single cream-coloured flower with a long red fringe on the sides of its labellum.

<i>Caladenia denticulata <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> denticulata</i> Subspecies of orchid

Caladenia denticulata subsp. denticulata, commonly known as the yellow 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, hairy leaf and one or two yellowish flowers which have a white labellum with pale red markings.

<i>Caladenia gardneri</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia gardneri, commonly known as the cherry spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and up to three pale pink, sweetly scented flowers with a dark pinkish-red labellum.

<i>Caladenia hirta <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> rosea</i> Subspecies of orchid

Caladenia hirta subsp. rosea, commonly known as the pink candy orchid or candy orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a widespread and common orchid which has a single leaf, up to three pale pink to deep pink flowers and often grows in clumps.

<i>Caladenia macrostylis</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia macrostylis, commonly known as the leaping spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and up to three distinctive pale greenish-yellow and red flowers with a cluster of deep purplish calli in the centre of its labellum.

Caladenia pholcoidea subsp. pholcoidea, commonly known as the Albany spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and up to four pale yellow flowers with long drooping petals and lateral sepals.

<i>Caladenia saxicola</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia saxicola, commonly known as the banded ironstone spider orchid, is a species of plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and one or two dull creamy-white to pale yellow flowers with spreading lateral sepals and petals.

<i>Caladenia uliginosa <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> uliginosa</i> Subspecies of orchid

Caladenia uliginosa subsp. uliginosa, commonly known as the dainty spider orchid, or darting spider orchid is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and up to four greenish-cream flowers which have a forward-projecting labellum with a dark red tip.

<i>Cyanicula aperta</i> Species of orchid

Cyanicula aperta, commonly known as the western tiny blue china orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a relatively narrow leaf and a single bluish-mauve flower. It is distinguished from the other two similar blue orchids by the sides of the labellum which are erect but well-separated from the column. This species also has a more easterly distribution than C. amplexans and C. sericea.

Cyanicula ashbyae, commonly known as the powder-blue china orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a relatively short, broad leaf and one or two pale bluish-mauve flowers.

<i>Cyanicula caerulea</i> Species of orchid

Cyanicula caerulea, commonly known as the eastern tiny blue china orchid, blue caladenia or blue fairy is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single narrow leaf and a single blue flower.

Cyanicula fragrans, commonly known as the fragrant china orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is similar to the other china orchids, especially C. ashbyae but has a paler green leaf, vanilla-scented flowers and a more northerly distribution.

<i>Cyanicula gemmata</i> Species of orchid

Cyanicula gemmata, commonly known as the blue china orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a small, oval leaf and up to three intense blue to mauve flowers. It is the most common and widespread of the West Australian china orchids, sometimes appearing in large numbers after summer fires.

<i>Cyanicula ixioides</i> Species of orchid

Cyanicula ixioides, commonly known as the white china orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, broad, flattened leaf and up to three yellow or white flowers. It mostly only occurs in woodlands and forest near Perth.

Cyanicula gertrudae, commonly known as the pale china orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a small, oval leaf and one or two pale blue, sweetly-scented flowers. It is similar to Caladenia gemmata but its leaf is green on both surfaces, the flower is scented and the labellum is striped.

<i>Cyanicula sericea</i> Species of orchid endemic to Australia

Cyanicula sericea, commonly known as the silky blue orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a common orchid in the high rainfall areas of the state and has a single, broad, silky leaf and up to four blue-mauve flowers.

Cyanicula nikulinskyae, commonly known as Philippa's china orchid, granite china orchid and Esperance china orchid is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is very similar to Caladenia gemmata but has slightly smaller flowers with taller calli. It has a single broad, flattened leaf and up to two pale blue flowers and occurs near Esperance.

References

  1. 1 2 "Caladenia amplexans". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  2. 1 2 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 28. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 184. ISBN   9780980296457.
  4. 1 2 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 191. ISBN   9780646562322.
  5. "Caladenia amplexans". APNI. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  6. Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 131. ISBN   9780958034180.
  7. 1 2 "Cyanicula amplexans". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.