Caladenia leptochila subsp. leptochila

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Narrow-lipped spider orchid
Caladenia leptochila - Flickr. 003.jpg
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:
Fitzg. [1]
Subspecies:
C. l. subsp. leptochila
Trinomial name
Caladenia leptochila subsp. leptochila

Caladenia leptochila subsp. leptochila, commonly known as the narrow-lipped spider orchid, [2] is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to South Australia. It has a single leaf and one or two yellowish or red flowers. It differs from subspecies leptochila in the colour of its flowers, lack of toothed edges to its labellum, and its distribution.

Contents

Description

Caladenia leptochila subsp. leptochila is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect leaf, 100–200 mm (4–8 in) long and 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide. One or two yellowish or red flowers 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) in diameter are borne on a stalk 200–450 mm (8–20 in) tall. The sepals have thin, reddish, club-like glandular tips 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. The dorsal sepal is erect, 40–65 mm (2–3 in) long and about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide. The lateral sepals are about the same size as the dorsal sepal but are turned stiffly upwards. The petals are 35–45 mm (1.4–1.8 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and spread horizontally or turn upwards. The labellum is 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and red with the tip rolled under. The sides of the labellum lack the teeth of subspecies dentata but there are four rows of short, red calli along its mid-line. Flowering occurs from September to November. [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia leptochila was first formally described by Robert FitzGerald in 1882 and the description was published in The Gardener's Chronicle from a specimen collected on Mount Lofty. [3] [4] In 2008 a new subspecies (Caladenia leptochila subsp. dentata) was described, with the result that Caladenia leptochila subsp. leptochila became an autonym. [1] [5] The specific epithet (leptochila) is derived from the ancient Greek words leptos (λεπτός) meaning "fine", "small" or "thin" and cheilos (χεῖλος) meaning "lip". [6]

Distribution and habitat

The narrow-lipped spider orchid occurs in the south-east of South Australia where it grows in clay or gravelly soils in shrubby forest in the Mount Lofty ranges. [2] It is thought to have been common in Victoria in the past but is now probably extinct. [7]

Related Research Articles

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

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.

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

Caladenia flava subsp. maculata, commonly known as the Kalbarri cowslip 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 brownish-fawn spots on some parts. It mainly occurs in near-coastal areas north of Geraldton.

Caladenia leptochila subsp. dentata, commonly known as the toothed spider orchid, narrow-lipped spider-orchid or narrow-lipped caladenia, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to South Australia. It has a single leaf and one or two mostly reddish-brown flowers. It differs from subspecies leptochila in the colour of its flowers, toothed edges to its labellum, and its distribution.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. albella, commonly known as the small-lipped 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 four, mostly white flowers which have a pungent smell. It usually grows in seasonal swamps between Eneabba and Gingin.

<i>Caladenia applanata <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> applanata</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Caladenia applanata subsp. applanata, commonly known as the broad-lipped 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 up to three flowers which may be red, cream, green or yellow and have a broad, flattened, red-tipped labellum.

Caladenia applanata subsp. erubescens, commonly known as the rose 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 up to three uniformly pink, sweet-smelling flowers which have a broad, flattened labellum.

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

Caladenia longicauda subsp. merrittii, commonly known as Merritt's 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 very long, drooping lateral sepals and petals, and a white broad labellum with relatively short labellum teeth. It is one of the largest spider orchids.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. extrema, commonly known as the late white spider orchid or Seaton Ross 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 mainly white flowers with long, mostly spreading lateral sepals and petals. It is a relatively rare orchid which is similar to the tangled white spider orchid but has larger flowers and a later flowering period.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. insularis, commonly known as the 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 four yellowish-white flowers with long, mostly spreading lateral sepals and petals. It is a relatively rare, self-pollinating subspecies and often flowers which are in bud, open and finished are seen on a single plant.

Caladenia necrophylla, commonly known as late green-comb spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to South Australia. It has a single leaf and a single yellowish-green flower with red lines along the sepals and petals. It is unusual in that the leaf has completely withered before the flower opens, and sometimes even before the flower spike appears.

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

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.

<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 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 pholcoidea subsp. augustensis, commonly known as the Augustus spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a rare orchid with a single hairy leaf and up to three mostly white flowers with long spreading petals and lateral sepals.

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

Caladenia toxochila, commonly known as the bow-lip 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, sparsely hairy leaf and one or two yellowish-green flowers with red stripes. It occurs in Victoria and South Australia and resembles the related Caladenia concinna from New South Wales.

<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.

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

Caladenia uliginosa subsp. candicans, commonly known as the northern 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 three yellowish-cream flowers which have a forward-projecting labellum lacking the red tip of subspecies uliginosa.

Caladenia rileyi, commonly known as the Gillenbah spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and a single yellowish-green and red flower.

References

  1. 1 2 "Caladenia leptochila subsp. leptochila". APNI. Retrieved 13 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. 71. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. "Caladenia leptochila". APNI. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  4. Fitzgerald, Robert D. (1882). "New Australian orchids". The Gardeners' Chronicle. 17: 462. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  5. Barker, Robyn Mary; Lang, Peter J. (2011). "Name changes associated with the South Australian census of vascular plants for the calendar year 2011" (PDF). Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 25: 100. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  6. Backer, C.A. (1936). Verklarend woordenboek der wetenschappelijke namen van de in Nederland en Nederlandsch-Indië in het wild groeiende en in tuinen en parken gekweekte varens en hoogere planten (Edition Nicoline van der Sijs).
  7. Jeanes, Jeff. "Caladenia leptochila subsp. leptochila". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: vicflora. Retrieved 14 February 2017.