Caladenia dimidia

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Chameleon orchid
Caladenia dimidia.jpg
Caladenia dimidia in Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve
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. dimidia
Binomial name
Caladenia dimidia
Synonyms
  • Calonema dimidium(Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Jonesiopsis dimidia(Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

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 ( C. polychroma ) but has a more northerly distribution and smaller flowers.

Contents

Caladenia dimidia habit Caladenia dimidia habit.jpg
Caladenia dimidia habit
Caladenia dimidia close-up of labellum Caladenia dimidia (labellum detail).jpg
Caladenia dimidia close-up of labellum

Description

Caladenia dimidia is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which grows as a solitary plant or in small clumps. It has a single, erect, linear, hairy leaf, 7–15 cm (3–6 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. The leaf is pale green and has purple-red blotches near its base. [2] [3] [4]

One or two yellow to cream-coloured, sometimes pinkish flowers, with dark maroon markings are borne on a stalk 15–30 cm (6–10 in) tall. The flowers are 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long and 4–9 cm (2–4 in) wide. The bases of the sepals and petals are linear to lance-shaped and held stiffly for about one-third, then suddenly narrow to a dark brown, densely glandular thread-like section. The dorsal sepal is erect, linear to lance-shaped, 4.5–7 cm (2–3 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide at the base and has its edges slightly turned inwards. The lateral sepals are spreading and downcurved, 5–7.5 cm (2–3 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide at the base and are inclined downwards. The petals are 4.6–6.5 cm (2–3 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide at the base, spread widely near the base then incline downwards. The labellum is white or pale yellow with maroon stripes, spots and blotches. It is comparatively small, diamond-shaped, 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and curves downward at the front. The sides of the labellum curve upwards and have a fringe of small teeth decreasing in size towards the front of the labellum. There are 6 to 14 creamy-white or pale pink, narrow anvil-shaped calli in two rows in the centre of the labellum for at least half of its length. Flowering occurs from July to late September. This species is similar to Caladenia polychroma but its flowers, especially its labellum is smaller. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia dimidia was first formally described by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown in 2001 from a specimen collected by Hopper south-east of Hyden. The description was published in Nuytsia. [1] The specific epithet (dimidia) is Latin word meaning "half" [5] referring to the characters of this species being half-way between those of C. polychroma and C. paradoxa . [4]

Distribution and habitat

The chameleon orchid is a common orchid in the eastern wheatbelt from near Paynes Find to near Ravensthorpe in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, and Mallee biogeographic regions where it grows in a range of habitats that are generally wet in winter. [2] [3] [4] [6]

Conservation

Caladenia dimidia is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [6]

Related Research Articles

<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 decora</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia decora, commonly known as the Esperance king 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, yellow and green flowers. It is a variable species, similar to the king spider orchid and sometimes hybridises with other species so that it can be difficult to recognise, but is one of the largest spider orchids found in Western Australia.

<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.

Caladenia denticulata subsp. rubella, commonly known as the clumped 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 dull or pinkish red flowers with prominent dull red markings and with a white labellum with red markings.

Caladenia drakeoides, commonly known as the hinged dragon orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and a single greenish-yellow and red flower with a hinged labellum resembling a female thynnid wasp.

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

Caladenia erythronema, commonly known as the red thread spider orchid, and Nyabing 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 red, yellow or cream-coloured flowers with dangling, thread-like sepals and petals and a small labellum.

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

Caladenia fluvialis, commonly known as the Brookton Highway spider orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a recently discovered orchid with a single hairy leaf and one or two cream-yellow flowers with red markings on the labellum.

<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 perangusta, commonly known as the Boyup Brook spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a rare spider orchid with a single hairy leaf and one or two cream-yellow or red flowers with narrow, drooping sepals and petals.

Caladenia pluvialis, commonly known as the Yuna spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a common spider orchid, especially after winter rains, occurring in a restricted area. It has a single hairy leaf and one or two creamy-coloured flowers. It was formerly included with Caladenia incensa.

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

Caladenia polychroma, commonly known as the Joseph's 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 relatively large and colourful but smelly flowers.

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

Caladenia remota subsp. parva, commonly known as the Perenjori 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 creamy-white to pale yellow flowers. It has a more restricted and more westerly distribution than subspecies remota.

Caladenia petrensis, commonly known as the rock 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 yellow flowers with drooping lateral sepals and petals.

Caladenia saxicola, commonly known as the banded ironstone 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 dull creamy-white to pale yellow flowers with spreading lateral sepals and petals.

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

Caladenia straminichila, commonly known as the Tenterden yellow 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 pale yellow flowers which have a red-striped labellum with short teeth on its sides.

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

Caladenia xantha, commonly known as the primrose 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 yellow flowers with a cream-coloured, brown-striped labellum.

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

Caladenia exilis is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single erect, linear leaf and up to three white to greenish-cream or dark pinkish-maroon flowers.

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

Caladenia hirta, commonly known as sugar candy orchid, flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single broad, hairy leaf and up to six white or pink and white flowers with pink markings.

Caladenia nana, commonly known as pink fan orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a clump-forming ground orchid with a single linear leaf and up to 6 pale pink to rose pink flowers.

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

Caladenia pendens is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, linear leaf and up to three cream-coloured to dark pinkish-maroon flowers with reddish-purple markings.

References

  1. 1 2 "Caladenia dimidia". APNI. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  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. 57. ISBN   9780980348149.
  3. 1 2 3 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 63. ISBN   9780646562322.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Hopper, Stephen; Brown, Andrew Philip (2001). "Contributions to Western Australian orchidology: 2. New taxa and circumscriptions in Caledenia". Nuytsia. 14: 213–215.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 392.
  6. 1 2 "Caladenia dimidia". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.