Caladenia cairnsiana

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Zebra orchid
Caladenia cairnsiana - Zebra orchid (6108131898) - cropped.jpg
Caladenia cairnsiana growing in Helms arboretum near Esperance
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. cairnsiana
Binomial name
Caladenia cairnsiana
F.Muell. (1869) [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Calonema cairnsianum(F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Phlebochilus cairnsiana(F.Muell.) Szlach.
  • Calonemorchis cairnsiana(F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Jonesiopsis cairnsiana(F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Caladenia cairnsiana, commonly known as the zebra orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a common and widespread orchid distinguished by its red-striped labellum, and petals and lateral which are pressed against the ovary.

Contents

Description

Caladenia cairnsiana is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which is usually found in scattered groups or sometimes in clumps of more than ten. It has a single hairy leaf, 6–20 mm (0.2–0.8 in) long and about 6 mm (0.2 in) wide. There are one or two flowers on the end of a stalk 15–30 cm (6–10 in) tall, each flower 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long and about 10 mm (0.4 in) wide. The flowers are greenish-yellow with red markings. The lateral sepals and the petals hang down against the ovary. The labellum is inclined upwards, is red-striped, has a smooth edge and a glandular tip. In the centre of the labellum is a band of deep purple-red calli. Flowering occurs between August and early November and is followed by a non-fleshy, dehiscent capsule containing a large number of seeds. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia cairnsiana was first described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1868 in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected in the Stirling Range. [1] [5] The specific epithet (cairnsiana) honours Reverend Adam Cairns. [2]

Distribution and habitat

The zebra orchid is widespread and common, between Esperance and Lancelin in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions. It grows in sand, laterite or loam in forest, woodland and heath. [2] [3] [6]

Conservation

Caladenia cairnsiana is classified as "Not Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [6]

Related Research Articles

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

Caladenia pectinata, commonly known as the king spider orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three large red, yellow and pale green flowers. It is especially common between Bremer Bay and Rocky Gully.

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

Caladenia arrecta, commonly known as the reaching 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 up to three red, yellow and green flowers on a flowering stem up to 35 cm (10 in) high. It is distinguished from the similar C. longiclavata and C. magniclavata by its upswept petals and distinctive calli. Although not common, it is widespread in south-eastern coastal areas.

<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.

Caladenia fuscolutescens, commonly known as the ochre spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and one or two brownish-yellow flowers with a pale yellow, red-striped labellum. It is most common in spring after bushfires in the previous summer.

Caladenia graminifolia, commonly known as the grass-leafed spider orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single glabrous leaf and one or two short-lived, greenish-yellow and red flowers which have a narrow labellum with long teeth on its sides.

Caladenia graniticola, commonly known as the Pingaring spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and one or two yellowish-green, red and white flowers which have a greenish-yellow and white labellum with a red tip. It was originally described as Caladenia hoffmanii subsp. graniticola but has a slightly different labellum and column.

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

Caladenia heberleana, commonly known as Heberle's 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 red, white and pale yellow flowers which have a white, red-tipped labellum.

Caladenia hiemalis, commonly known as the dwarf common spider orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and one or two, cream-coloured flowers with a small, red-striped labellum. It has an early flowering period and its flowering is stimulated by summer fires.

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

Caladenia horistes, commonly known as the cream spider orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and one or two, creamy-yellow flowers which have a red-striped labellum and long, dark, thread-like tips on the sepals and petals.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. insularis, commonly known as the island white 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 yellowish-white flowers with long, mostly spreading lateral sepals and petals. It is a relatively rare, self-pollinating subspecies and often flowers which are in bud, open and finished are seen on a single plant.

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

Caladenia longiclavata, commonly known as the clubbed spider orchid is a species of plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a widespread and common orchid with a single, hairy leaf and one or two greenish-yellow, white and red flowers and which grows in the area between Perth and Albany.

Caladenia longifimbriata, commonly known as the fringed spider orchid or green-comb spider orchid, is a rare species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and one or two green, red and white flowers with a long labellum fringe and only occurs in a few scattered populations between Jerramungup and Esperance.

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

Caladenia microchila, commonly known as the western wispy spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is relatively common orchid with a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three wispy white flowers with narrow lateral sepals and petals and a white labellum with red markings.

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

Caladenia multiclavia, commonly known as the lazy spider orchid is a species of orchid, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and one or two greenish-yellow, red and cream-coloured flowers resembling a reclining spider. Although it usually only has a single flower, it often grows in clumps of up to six plants.

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

Caladenia pachychila, commonly known as the dwarf zebra orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and one or two greenish-yellow and red flowers with a red-striped labellum which has a dense cluster of deep purple calli in its centre. It is similar to the zabra orchid but has smaller flowers and the lateral sepals do not clasp the ovary.

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

Caladenia pendens subsp. pendens, commonly known as the pendant 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 three relatively large, creamy-white flowers with long drooping petals and sepals and sometimes has a sickly-sweet scent.

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

Caladenia radialis, commonly known as the drooping spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and one or two red and cream-coloured flowers. In good seasons it forms clumps of up to ten plants.

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

Caladenia serotina, commonly known as the Christmas spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three white to cream-coloured and red flowers, although the relative amount of each is variable. It is one of the later-flowering spider orchids and occurs in the far south-west corner of the state.

Caladenia sigmoidea, commonly known as the sigmoid spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and usually only one red and cream-coloured flowers with an unusual S-shaped labellum.

Pyrorchis forrestii, commonly known as pink beaks, is a species of orchid endemic to Western Australia. It has two or three ground-hugging leaves and up to seven sweetly perfumed, pink and white flowers, but it only flowers after fire the previous summer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Caladenia cairnsiana". APNI. Retrieved 2 November 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  2. 1 2 3 Brown, Andrew; Dixon, Kingsley; French, Christopher; Brockman, Garry (2013). Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia. Simon Nevill Publications. p. 136. ISBN   9780980348149.
  3. 1 2 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 161. ISBN   9780646562322.
  4. "Caladenia". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 2 November 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  5. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1869). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae (Volume 7). Melbourne. p. 31. Retrieved 2 November 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  6. 1 2 "Caladenia cairnsiana". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.