Caladenia hoffmanii

Last updated

Hoffman's spider orchid
Caladenia hoffmanii.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. hoffmanii
Binomial name
Caladenia hoffmanii
Synonyms [1]

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 ( Caladenia graniticola ) by small differences in the labellum and more northerly distribution.

Contents

Description

Caladenia hoffmanii is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, 80–150 mm (3–6 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. One or two flowers 60–70 mm (2–3 in) long and 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) wide are borne on a stalk 120–300 mm (5–10 in) tall. The flowers are greenish-yellow, red and white and the sepals and petals have narrow, club-like glandular tips, 2–10 mm (0.08–0.4 in) long. The dorsal sepal is erect, 20–28 mm (0.8–1 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide at the base. The lateral sepals are about the same size as the dorsal sepal but curve downwards. The petals are 17–25 mm (0.7–1 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and also curve downwards. The labellum is 12–14 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide, greenish-yellow and white. The sides of the labellum have many erect teeth up to 5 mm (0.2 in) long. The tip is dark red and curves downward (but not under). There are four close rows of red calli along the centre of the labellum, gradually decreasing in size towards the tip. Flowering occurs from August to September. Caladenia graniticola has larger calli, a more southerly distribution and different habitat. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia hoffmanii was first described in 2001 by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown from a specimen collected in the Morseby Range and the description was published in Nuytsia . [1] The specific epithet (hoffmanii) honours Noel Hoffman, the author of books about Western Australian orchids. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Hoffman's spider orchid occurs between Geraldton and the Murchison River in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region where it grows under dense shrubs on rocky hillsides. [2] [3] [4] [6]

Conservation

Caladenia hoffmanii is classified as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife [6] and it has also been listed as "Endangered" (EN) under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The main threats to the species are grazing by feral pigs ( Sus scrofa ), by rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) and inappropriate fire regimes. [5]

Related Research Articles

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

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.

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 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.

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

Caladenia pectinata, commonly known as the king 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 large red, yellow and pale green flowers. It is especially common between Bremer Bay and Rocky Gully.

Caladenia cristata, commonly known as the crested clown orchid or crested 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 greenish-yellow and red flower on an unusually tall spike, considering the small size of the flower. Since its discovery in 1923 and collections made in 1923 it was thought to be extinct, until rediscovered in 1986.

<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.

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

Caladenia doutchiae, commonly known as the purple-veined clown orchid or purple-veined spider 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 with short, downswept petals, and lateral sepals that are broad at the base then narrow to a glandular tip.

<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.

<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.

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

Caladenia infundibularis, commonly known as the funnel-web 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 longiclavata</i> Species of orchid

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

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 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 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.

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

Caladenia petrensis, commonly known as the rock spider orchid, is a species of 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.

<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.

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

Caladenia thinicola, commonly known as the Scott River 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 four yellowish-green and red flowers with a fringe of long teeth on the sides of the labellum and thick brown, club-like glandular tips on the sepals.

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

Caladenia uliginosa subsp. uliginosa, commonly known as the dainty spider orchid, or darting 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 greenish-cream flowers which have a forward-projecting labellum with a dark red tip.

Caladenia viridescens, commonly known as the Dunsborough 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 flowers with faint red or pink markings.

Caladenia voigtii, commonly known as the mohawk orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and usually only one greenish-yellow and red flower. When discovered near Salmon Gums in 1977, it was thought to be the extinct Caladenia cristata, but when C. cristata was found near Miling, the Salmon Gums discovery was renamed C. voigtii.

<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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Caladenia hoffmanii". APNI. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  2. 1 2 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 82. ISBN   1877069124.
  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. 127. ISBN   9780980296457.
  4. 1 2 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 152. ISBN   9780646562322.
  5. 1 2 "Approved Conservation Advice for Caladenia hoffmanii (Hoffman's Spider-orchid)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Caladenia hoffmanii". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.