Caladenia dilatata

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Green-comb spider-orchid
Caladenia dilatata.jpg
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. dilatata
Binomial name
Caladenia dilatata
Synonyms [1]
List
    • Arachnorchis dilatata(R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
    • Caladenia corynepetalaD.L.Jones
    • Caladenia dilatataR.Br. subsp. dilatata
    • Caladenia dilatataR.Br. var. dilatata
    • Caladenia patersonii var. dilatata(R.Br.) Benth.
    • Caladenia simulansG.W.Carr
    • Caladenia sp. aff. tentaculata (Southern coastal)
    • Calonema corynepetalaSzlach. orth. var.
    • Calonema corynepetalum(D.L.Jones) Szlach.
    • Calonema dilatataSzlach. orth. var.
    • Calonema dilatatum(R.Br.) Szlach.
    • Calonemorchis corynepetala(D.L.Jones) Szlach.
    • Calonemorchis dilatata(R.Br.) Szlach.

Caladenia dilatata, commonly known as the green-comb spider-orchid [2] and as koolin by Aboriginal people of the Coranderrk area, [3] is species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single leaf and a single yellowish-green flower with reddish stripes and occurs in Victoria South Australia and Tasmania. It is similar to C. necrophylla which occurs in south-east South Australia and to C. concinna from southern New South Wales.

Contents

Description

Caladenia dilatata is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single leaf which is 60–130 mm (2–5 in) long, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide with red spots near the base, but which is often dried by flowering time. A single yellowish-green flower with reddish stripes is borne on a flowering stem which is 200–350 mm (8–10 in) tall. The sepals and petals have brown or yellowish, densely glandular, thread-like tips 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long. The dorsal sepal is erect, 35–50 mm (1–2 in) long and 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide with a drooping tip. The lateral sepals are 35–50 mm (1–2 in) long, 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) wide near the base then tapered to thread-like tips. The lateral sepals are parallel to each other or crossed. The petals are 25–35 mm (1–1 in) long, 1.5–2 mm (0.06–0.08 in) wide and curve downwards. The labellum is 13–17 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and wide, green near the base, grading to white with a dark maroon tip. There are four or five pairs of thin teeth 4–5 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long on the sides of the labellum and four densely crowded rows of calli up to 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long in the centre of the labellum. Flowering occurs from November to January. [4] [5]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia dilatata was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown from a specimen collected at Port Dalrymple at the mouth of the Tamar River near Georgetown. The description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae . [6] [7]

The specific epithet (dilatata) is a Latin word meaning "widened" or "expanded". [8]

A similar species, the endangered C. tensa which occurs in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, was formerly included with C. dilatata. [9]

Distribution and habitat

Green-comb spider-orchid occurs in Victoria, the south-east of South Australia and Tasmania. [1] [2] It grows in coastal or near-coastal heath and in open forest further inland. [4] [10]

Reproduction

The flower of this orchid closes after pollination, forming a papery capsule. [11] Yellow, brown, or black dust-sized seeds are produced in the capsule, which dries and splits open at maturity, releasing millions of seeds that are dispersed by wind or water. [11] However, the seeds only germinate upon infection by mycorrhizal fungus, and so few seeds mature into full plants. [11]

Ecology

The elongated tips of the flower produces sexual attractants and attracts pollinators in pseudocopulation, where the pollinators think the flower is a female. Thynnid wasps are often attracted to the flower with the notion of copulating with the flower.

Caladenia dilatata has a mutualistic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, where the fungus acquires some nutrition from the orchid, and the orchid requires the fungus to germinate. [11] However, the orchid’s dependence on the fungus is not well known.

Although the orchid’s fire ecology is not well understood, it is believed that forest fires help clear surrounding vegetation, increasing light levels and temperature at ground level. [9] With fewer competing plants, there is also believed to be an increase in moisture levels that can benefit Caladenia dilatata.

Food

The Kulin name of Caladenia dilatata is koolin, and its tubers are eaten either raw or baked. [3] [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Caladenia</i> Genus of orchids

Caladenia, commonly known as spider orchids, is a genus of 350 species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Spider orchids are terrestrial herbs with a single hairy leaf and a hairy stem. The labellum is fringed or toothed in most species and there are small projections called calli on the labellum. The flowers have adaptations to attract particular species of insects for pollination. The genus is divided into three groups on the basis of flower shape, broadly, spider orchids, zebra orchids and cowslip orchids, although other common names are often used. Although they occur in other countries, most are Australian and 136 species occur in Western Australia, making it the most species-rich orchid genus in that state.

Caladenia robinsonii, commonly known as the Frankston spider orchid is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and one or two red and creamy-yellow flowers with dark red glandular tips on the sepals. In 2010 only about forty specimens of this plant, growing in a single population were known.

<i>Caladenia abbreviata</i> Species of orchid endemic to Western Australia

Caladenia abbreviata, commonly known as the coastal 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 pale, creamy-yellow flowers on a flowering stem up to 35 cm (10 in) high. Although the flowers have long, thread-like petals and sepals, they are shorter and darker than those of other spider orchids. It is a rare, relatively recently discovered species although often found near human activities.

<i>Caladenia cardiochila</i> Species of orchid endemic to Australia

Caladenia cardiochila, commonly known as thick-lipped spider-orchid, fleshy-lipped caladenia and heartlip spider-orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria and South Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and one or two yellowish-green, red-striped flowers on a thin, wiry stem.

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

Caladenia caudata, commonly known as tailed 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 up to four red, or yellow and red flowers with dark red to almost black tips.

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

Caladenia clavigera, commonly known as plain-lip spider orchid or clubbed spider orchid is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a ground orchid which grows as scattered individuals or in small colonies in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. It has a single leaf and one or two small yellowish-green and red flowers.

Caladenia concinna, commonly known as the neat spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf, and usually a single greenish flower with red stripes on the petals and sepals.

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

Caladenia echidnachila, commonly known as the fawn 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 one or two fawn-coloured flowers with thin red lines on the sepals and petals.

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 mentiens</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia mentiens, commonly known as lesser fingers, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia which grows singly, or in small, loose groups. It has a single, sparsely hairy, erect, linear leaf and a single whitish or pinkish coloured flower with a darker back and a cream-coloured labellum.

Caladenia patersonii is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is native to Victoria and Tasmania. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and one or two creamy-white, yellowish or pink flowers.

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

Caladenia reticulata, commonly known as the veined spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria and South Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single, hairy leaf and usually only one yellowish-green and red flower.

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

Caladenia rhomboidiformis, commonly known as the diamond 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 green, yellow and red flowers. Until 1971 It was known as a variety of the green comb spider orchid Caladenia dilatata then, until 1989 as a variety of the clubbed spider orchid, Caladenia longiclavata.

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.

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

Caladenia rosella, commonly known as the rosella spider orchid 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 scented pink flower. Although it may have had a wider distribution in the past, the total number of plants in 2000 was estimated to be 120 in four populations in Victoria. There is a single record from New South Wales but the orchid is classified as "extinct" in that state.

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

Caladenia tessellata, commonly known as the thick-lip spider-orchid, 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 one or two yellowish-green flowers with dark red markings.

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

Caladenia stricta, commonly known as the upright spider orchid or rigid-combed spider-orchid is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and usually only one pale green flower with red lines along the sepals and petals.

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

Caladenia tensa, commonly known as the rigid spider orchid is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and one or two pale green flowers with red stripes. It is mainly only found in the Little Desert National Park in Victoria and in the far south-east of South Australia but there are four records from New South Wales.

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

Caladenia toxochila, commonly known as the bow-lip spider orchid 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 one or two yellowish-green flowers with red stripes. It occurs in Victoria and South Australia and resembles the related Caladenia concinna from New South Wales.

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

Caladenia villosissima, commonly known as the hairy spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria. It is a ground orchid with a single densely hairy leaf and a single pale green flower with red stripes along the sepals and petals. It is a poorly known species and there is insufficient information about its distribution and abundance to determine whether or not it is endangered.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Caladenia dilatata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Caladenia dilatata". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 De Angelis, David. "Aboriginal Use Plants of the Greater Melbourne Area" (PDF). Victorian Volcanic Plains Conservation Management News. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  4. 1 2 Jeanes, Jeff. "Caladenia dilatata". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: Vicflora. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  5. ↑ Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 89–90. ISBN   1877069124.
  6. ↑ "Caladenia dilatata". APNI. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  7. ↑ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 325. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  8. ↑ Short, Emma; George, Alex (2013). A Primer of Botanical Latin with Vocabulary . Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. p.  157. ISBN   9781107693753.
  9. 1 2 "Caladenia tensa — Greencomb Spider-orchid, Rigid Spider-orchid". Australian Government Department of theEnvironment. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  10. ↑ Jones, David L. (1998). "Contributions to Tasmanian Orchidology". Australian Orchid Research. 3 (2): 30.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Under Storey Network".
  12. ↑ Brough, Smyth R (1878). The aborigines of Victoria: with notes relating to the habits of the natives of other parts of Australia and Tasmania. Melbourne: John Ferres, Government Printer.
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