Caladenia fragrantissima

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Scented spider orchid
Caladenia fragrantissima flower.jpg
Caladenia fragrantissima near Swan Lake, Portland
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. fragrantissima
Binomial name
Caladenia fragrantissima
Synonyms [1]

Caladenia fragrantissima, commonly known as the scented spider orchid, [2] 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 up to three creamy-white to yellowish-green flowers. It is possible that it is conspecific with Caladenia orientalis .

Contents

Description

Caladenia fragrantissima is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single, hairy leaf, 60–100 mm (2–4 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide. Up to three strongly-scented, creamy-white to yellowish-green flowers 60–80 mm (2–3 in) across are borne on a hairy spike 200–400 mm (8–20 in) tall. The sepals and petals suddenly taper to long, thin, dark red to black glandular tips. The dorsal sepal is erect, 60–80 mm (2–3 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide and the lateral sepals are 60–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide at the base. The petals are 50–70 mm (2–3 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide at the base. The lateral sepals and petals slope downwards near their bases then have drooping tips. The labellum is 16–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide and cream-coloured with its tip rolled under. There are many narrow, dark reddish to blackish teeth up to 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long on the sides of the labellum and four or six rows of reddish calli along its centre. Flowering occurs in September and October. [2] [3]

This species is similar to Caladenia orientalis and Caladenia patersonii and is difficult to distinguish from them. It may not be a separate species from C. orientalis. [3]

Taxonomy and naming

This caldenia was first formally described by William Henry Nicholls in 1940 and given the name Caladenia patersonii var. suaveolens. The description was published in The Victorian Naturalist from a specimen collected near Portland. [4] In 1989, David Jones and Geoffrey Carr raised it to species status. [1] The specific epithet (fragrantissima) is the superlative form of the Latin adjective fragrans meaning “smelling agreeably". [5]

Distribution and habitat

The scented spider orchid grows in dense heath or heathy forest in well-drained soil in near-coastal areas between Nelson and Portland in Victoria and in the far south-east of South Australia. [2] [3]

Conservation

Caladenia fragrantissima is listed as "endangered" under the Victorian Government Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 [3] and as "vulnerable" in South Australia. [6]

Related Research Articles

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.

Caladenia amoena, commonly known as the charming spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae, and is endemic to Victoria. It is a ground orchid which grows singly or in small groups, has a single dark green, hairy leaf and a single yellowish-green flower with red stripes. It is only known from a few sites and has been classified as Endangered.

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

Caladenia australis, commonly known as southern spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria, although it was also found on one Bass Strait island on one occasion in 1968. It has a single hairy leaf and usually only one creamy-yellow flower with red streaks, the flower on a hairy stalk.

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

Caladenia capillata, commonly known as white daddy long legs or wispy 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 up to three cream-coloured to yellowish flowers with long, thread-like petals and sepals and a very small labellum.

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

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 cruscula</i> species of plant

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 echidnachila</i> species of plant

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.

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

Caladenia footeana, commonly known as the crimson 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, relatively small pinkish-red flowers with a white, red-striped labellum. Its relatively small size makes it hard to find in its surroundings.

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

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.

Caladenia hastata, commonly known as Mellblom's 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 up to three white to cream-coloured flowers with red markings on the labellum.

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

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 magnifica, commonly known as the magnificent spider orchid is a species of orchid endemic to Victoria. It has a single leaf and one or two reddish crimson or yellow flowers streaked with crimson and with dark reddish tips. It has not been sighted since 1979 and is presumed to be extinct.

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

Caladenia orientalis, commonly known as the eastern spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Victoria. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and one or two creamy-white to yellowish-green flowers and which only grows near the Mornington Peninsula.

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 pendens <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> pendens</i> subspecies of plant

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 pendens <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> talbotii</i> subspecies of plant

Caladenia pendens subsp. talbotii, commonly known as Talbot's 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 one or two white, red and yellow flowers with long drooping petals and sepals and sometimes has a citrus-like scent.

Caladenia pilotensis is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and one or two white or creamy-white flowers which sometimes have red lines. It is only known to occur on a single mountain.

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

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.

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 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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Caladenia fragrantissima". APNI. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  2. 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. 55. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jeanes, Jeff. "Caladenia fragrantissima". Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria: VicFlora. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  4. "Caladenia patersonii var. suaveolens". APNI. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 352.
  6. "Census of South Australian Plants". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 6 February 2017.