Caladenia ensata

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Stumpy spider orchid
Caladenia ensata.jpg
Caladenia ensata growing in Joondalup
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:C. ensata
Binomial name
Caladenia ensata
Synonyms [1]
  • Caladenia longiclava(E.Coleman) var. longiclava
  • Arachnorchis ensata(Nicholls) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Calonemorchis ensata(Nicholls) Szlach.
  • Calonema ensatum(Nicholls) Szlach.

Caladenia ensata, commonly known as the stumpy spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a common orchid within its natural range and has a single, hairy leaf and up to three pale yellow and red flowers which have short but thick, fleshy glandular tips.

Endemism ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location or habitat

Endemism is the ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation, country or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. The extreme opposite of endemism is cosmopolitan distribution. An alternative term for a species that is endemic is precinctive, which applies to species that are restricted to a defined geographical area.

Western Australia state in Australia

Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, and the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Australia is Australia's largest state, with a total land area of 2,529,875 square kilometres, and the second-largest country subdivision in the world, surpassed only by Russia's Sakha Republic. The state has about 2.6 million inhabitants – around 11 percent of the national total – of whom the vast majority live in the south-west corner, 79 per cent of the population living in the Perth area, leaving the remainder of the state sparsely populated.

Contents

Description

Caladenia ensata has a single erect, hairy leaf, 70–140 mm (3–6 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide. Up to three flowers 30–40 mm (1–2 in) wide are borne on a stalk 200–350 mm (8–10 in) high. The flowers are pale yellow and red or greenish and red and the sepals and petals have narrow, thick, glandular tips 2–12 mm (0.08–0.5 in) long. The dorsal sepal is erect, 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide at the base. The lateral sepals are a similar size to the dorsal sepal but spread widely and are stiffly held at an angle below horizontal. The petals are 22–28 mm (0.9–1 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and arranged like the lateral sepals. The labellum is 12–14 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide and greenish-yellow with a red tip. There are a few short, pointed greenish teeth on the side of the labellum and four or more rows of maroon calli up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long along its centre line. Flowering occurs from September to early November. [2] [3] [4]

Sepal part of a calyx

A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms. Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom. The term sepalum was coined by Noël Martin Joseph de Necker in 1790, and derived from the Greek σκεπη (skepi), a covering.

Petal Part of most types of flower

Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals, that collectively form the calyx and lie just beneath the corolla. The calyx and the corolla together make up the perianth. When the petals and sepals of a flower are difficult to distinguish, they are collectively called tepals. Examples of plants in which the term tepal is appropriate include genera such as Aloe and Tulipa. Conversely, genera such as Rosa and Phaseolus have well-distinguished sepals and petals. When the undifferentiated tepals resemble petals, they are referred to as "petaloid", as in petaloid monocots, orders of monocots with brightly coloured tepals. Since they include Liliales, an alternative name is lilioid monocots.

Gland (botany) structure in plants

In plants, a gland is defined functionally as a plant structure which secretes one or more products. This may be located on or near the plant surface and secrete externally, or be internal to the plant and secrete into a canal or reservoir. Examples include glandular hairs, nectaries, hydathodes, and the resin canals in Pinus.

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia ensata was first described by William Nicholls in 1947 from a specimen he collected on the banks of the King River. The description was published in The Victorian Naturalist . [1] The specific epithet (ensata) is derived from the Latin word ensis meaning "sword" [5] referring to the sword-like tips of the petals and sepals. [3]

William Henry Nicholls was an Australian amateur botanist, authority on, and collector of Australian orchids. An accomplished photographer and watercolourist, he contributed almost 100 articles on orchids to The Victorian Naturalist, many of which described new species with line drawings. He was working on producing a 24-volume illustrated monograph of all the orchids of Australia when he died. Only four volumes were published shortly after his death but the entire work was published in a single book, Orchids of Australia in 1969. Some of the many orchids described and named by Nicholls and retaining the name he gave them include Caladenia caudata, Caladenia echidnachila, Caladenia ensata, Caladenia ferruginea, Caladenia magniclavata, Caladenia ornata, Caladenia praecox, Caladenia radiata, Pterostylis fischii, Pterostylis hamiltonii, Pterostylis hildae and Pterostylis tenuissima. The orchid Prasophyllum nichollsianum was named in his honour by Herman Rupp.

King River is a small town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. It is located 406 km south east of Perth and the closest populated town is Albany.

<i>The Victorian Naturalist</i> The Victorian Naturalist is a bimonthly scientific journal covering natural history, especially of Australia. It is published by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria and is received as part of the membership subscription of that club.

The Victorian Naturalist is a bimonthly scientific journal covering natural history, especially of Australia. It is published by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria and is received as part of the membership subscription of that club. From 1881, club proceedings and papers had been published in the Southern Science Record and Magazine of Natural History before the first issue of The Victorian Naturalist appeared in January 1884. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research articles, research reports, "Naturalist Notes", and book reviews. The journal was published monthly until 1976, since then it has been published bimonthly. In that period several special issues have been published. These covered particular natural history topics or significant centenaries: of the club (1980), the death of Ferdinand von Mueller (1996), and the establishment of Wilsons Promontory National Park and Mount Buffalo National Park (1998). In 2001 there was a special issue on Frederick McCoy, the first president of the club. The journal was abstracted and indexed by Scopus in 1980 and 1984 and from 2008 to 2014.

Distribution and habitat

Stumpy spider orchid is found between Albany and Augusta in the Jarrah Forest and Warren biogeographic regions where it usually grows in sandy soil in woodland. It is a common orchid but often difficult to locate because of its small size and darker colours. [2] [3] [6]

Albany, Western Australia City in Western Australia

Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. Albany is the oldest colonial settlement in Western Australia, predating Perth and Fremantle by over two years.

Augusta, Western Australia Town in Western Australia

Augusta is a town on the south-west coast of Western Australia, where the Blackwood River emerges into Flinders Bay. It is the nearest town to Cape Leeuwin, on the furthest southwest corner of the Australian continent. In the 2001 census it had a population of 1,091; by 2011 the population of the town was 1,292.

Jarrah Forest Australian bioregion located in South West Western Australia.

Jarrah Forest is an interim Australian bioregion located in Western Australia. The Jarrah Forest comprises reserves across the south-west corner of WA and is managed for uses including recreation. There are many small areas of parkland while larger protected areas include the Dryandra Woodland, Lane-Poole Reserve, and the Perup Forest Ecology Centre. Also managed for land uses such as water, timber and mineral production, recreation and conservation, the forest is recognised globally as a significant hotspot of plant biodiversity and endemism.

Conservation

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

Department of Parks and Wildlife (Western Australia) department of the Government of Western Australia

The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) was the department of the Government of Western Australia responsible for managing lands described in the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 and implementing the state's conservation and environment legislation and regulations. The minister responsible for the department was the Minister for the Environment.

Related Research Articles

<i>Caladenia paludosa</i> species of plant

Caladenia paludosa, commonly known as the swamp 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 red, greenish-yellow and cream-coloured flowers. It mostly grows in dense scrub and is one of the last of the similar spider orchids to flower.

<i>Caladenia lobata</i> species of plant

Caladenia lobata, commonly known as the butterfly 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 flowers with red markings which have a labellum which vibrates in the slightest breeze.

<i>Caladenia attingens</i> species of plant

Caladenia attingens, commonly known as mantis orchids, are plants in the orchid family Orchidaceae and are endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. There are three subspecies, each of which has a single hairy leaf and one or two brightly coloured flowers with upswept sepals and a labellum with long, comb-like fringes. The subspecies differ in size, distribution and habitat.

Caladenia corynephora, commonly known as the club-lipped 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 greenish-yellow and red flowers which have a labellum with a club-like tip. It is the only Western Australian caladenia with a clubbed labellum.

<i>Caladenia exstans</i> species of plant

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.

<i>Caladenia falcata</i> species of plant

Caladenia falcata, commonly known as the fringed mantis orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a relatively common orchid within its natural range and has a single, hairy leaf and one or two green, yellow and red flowers with spreading petals and upswept lateral sepals.

<i>Caladenia heberleana</i> species of plant

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 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 huegelii</i> species of plant

Caladenia huegelii, commonly known as the grand 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 relatively large red, green and cream-coloured flowers which have "split-hairs" on the sides of the labellum.

Caladenia incrassata, commonly known as the puppet clown orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and usually only one greenish-yellow and red flower which has a red-striped labellum.

<i>Caladenia infundibularis</i> species of plant

Caladenia infundibularis, commonly known as the funnel-wed 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 greenish-yellow flowers which have a red-tipped labellum.

<i>Caladenia attingens</i> subsp. <i>gracillima</i> subspecies of plant

Caladenia attingens subsp. gracillima, commonly known as the small mantis 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 differs from subspecies attingens in having smaller flowers and a more easterly distribution.

Caladenia attingens subsp. effusa, commonly known as granite mantis orchid, is a subspecies 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. It differs from the other subspecies of Caladenia attingens in having smaller flowers with lateral sepals which are not upswept and a labellum which is less than 15 mm (0.6 in) wide.

<i>Caladenia longiclavata</i> species of plant

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.

<i>Caladenia macrostylis</i> species of plant

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.

<i>Caladenia magniclavata</i> species of plant

Caladenia magniclavata, commonly known as the big clubbed 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 yellow-green and red flowers with downswept, prominently clubbed sepals and petals.

<i>Caladenia multiclavia</i> species of plant

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 plant

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 rhomboidiformis</i> species of plant

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.

<i>Caladenia roei</i> species of plant

Caladenia roei is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is also known as the common clown orchid, clown orchid, ant orchid, man orchid and jack-in-the-box. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three greenish-yellow and red flowers with a relatively broad labellum. It is a common orchid throughout the south-west and is especially common on granite outcrops.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Caladenia ensata". APNI. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 156. ISBN   9780646562322.
  3. 1 2 3 Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 112. ISBN   9780980296457.
  4. ↑ Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 69. ISBN   1877069124.
  5. ↑ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 776.
  6. 1 2 "Caladenia ensata". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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