Caladenia elegans

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Elegant spider orchid
Caladenia elegans.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. elegans
Binomial name
Caladenia elegans
Synonyms [1]
List
    • Caladenia elegansN.Hoffman & A.P.Br. nom. inval.
    • Caladenia elegansAnon. nom. inval., nom. nud.
    • Caladenia elegans Paczk. & A.R.Chapm. nom. inval.
    • Caladenia sp. (Northampton) S.D.Hopper 3347
    • Caladenia sp. 9 (Northampton)
    • Caladenia sp. Muir (S.D.Hopper 3521) p.p.
    • Calonema elegans(Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
    • Calonemorchis elegans(Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
    • Jonesiopsis elegans(Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Caladenia elegans, commonly known as the elegant spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area near the coast of the south-west of Western Australia. It resembles the common spider orchid ( C. vulgata ) and often grows with it but its flowers are a different colour and C. elegans usually grows in poorly-drained soils. Only about 2,300 plants remained in 2016.

Contents

Description

Caladenia elegans is a terrestrial, perennial deciduous herb with an underground tuber and which often grows in clumps of up to eight or more plants. It has a single erect, hairy leaf, 60–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Up to three lemon-yellow flowers 50–80 mm (2–3 in) wide are borne on a stalk 200–350 mm (8–10 in) high. The sepals and petals taper to long thread-like, dark-coloured, drooping tips. The dorsal sepal is erect, 55–100 mm (2–4 in) long and 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.12 in) wide at the base. The lateral sepals are 70–110 mm (3–4 in) long, 2.5–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and curve downwards from the horizontal. The petals are 65–85 mm (2.6–3.3 in) long, 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.12 in) wide and also curve downwards. The labellum is 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide and cream-coloured with red lines, and spots. The edges of the labellum have short, broad teeth and there are two rows of glossy yellow calli along its centre. Flowering occurs from July to August. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

This species is similar to C. vulgata but differs in having lemon-yellow flowers and glossy yellow calli. The two species hybridise in a few places. [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia elegans was first described by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown in 2001 from a specimen collected by Hopper near Northampton in 1983. The description was published in Nuytsia . [7] [8] The specific epithet (elegans) is a Latin word meaning "elegant" [9] referring to "the attractive flowers". [3]

Distribution and habitat

Elegant spider orchid is only known from near Northhampton where it grows in clay soils that are wet in winter, often near dense, low shrubs in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region. (C. vulgata tends to grow in drier, better-drained soils.) [2] [3] [4] [10]

Conservation

Caladenia elegans is listed as "Threatened" in Western Australia under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. [10] Only about 2300 plants remained in 18 populations in a 2016 survey. The main threats to the species are weed invasion and grazing and trampling by pigs and rabbits. [11] It is also classed as "Critically Endangered" under the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act. [5] [6]

Related Research Articles

<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 exstans</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia exstans, commonly known as the pointing 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 one or two green, yellow and red flowers with a labellum which does not curl downwards but "points" forward.

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.

<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 graniticola</i> Species of orchid

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.

Caladenia harringtoniae, commonly known as the pink 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 to deep pink flowers which have a cream-coloured labellum with a pink tip.

<i>Caladenia hoffmanii</i> Subspecies of orchid

Caladenia hoffmanii, commonly known as Hoffman's 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 white flowers which have a greenish-yellow labellum with a red tip. It is distinguished from the Pingaring spider orchid by small differences in the labellum and more northerly distribution.

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

Caladenia attingens subsp. attingens, commonly known as the forest mantis orchid or sneezing spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a relatively common orchid with a single erect, hairy leaf and one or two green, yellow and red flowers. It is similar to the fringed mantis orchid but has smaller flowers and has a more southerly distribution.

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

Caladenia longicauda subsp. rigidula, commonly known as the rigid white spider orchid or 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 three large, mainly white flowers with relatively short lateral sepals and petals. It is similar to the reclining white spider orchid but that species has smaller, cream-coloured flowers.

Caladenia luteola, commonly known as the lemon 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 lemon-yellow flowers with red stripes on the labellum. It is only known from two small populations near Woodanilling.

<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.

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 swartsiorum</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia swartsiorum, commonly known as the Island Point 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 pale greenish-yellow and white flowers and is only known from a small area near the Harvey Estuary.

Caladenia ultima, commonly known as the late 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 creamy-yellow flowers with a red-striped labellum. It is one of the last spiders orchids to flower each year.

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

Caladenia vulgata, commonly known as the common spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a relatively common and widespread orchid with a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three creamy-white flowers. There is some variation in the species, both in flower colour and growth habit.

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

Caladenia williamsiae, commonly known as Judy's spider orchid, or Williams' spider orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a rare species with a single relatively large, erect, hairy leaf and one or two delicate, greenish-yellow and red flowers. It is only known from a single population near Brookton.

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

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 caesarea</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia caesarea 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, hairy leaf and up to three mustard-coloured or lemon-yellow flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 "Caladenia elegans". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 69. ISBN   9780646562322.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 58. ISBN   9780980296457.
  4. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 102. ISBN   1877069124.
  5. 1 2 3 "Elegant Spider Orchid" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Conservation and Land Management. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 "Conservation advice Caladenia elegans" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  7. "Caladenia elegans". APNI. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  8. Hopper, Stephen D.; Brown, Andrew P. (2001). "Contributions to Western Australian orchidology: 2. New taxa and circumscriptions in Caladenia". Nuytsia. 14 (1/2): 221–224. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  9. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 131.
  10. 1 2 "Caladenia elegans". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  11. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 31 January 2017.