Caladenia melanema

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Ballerina orchid
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. melanema
Binomial name
Caladenia melanema
Synonyms [1]
  • Calonemorchis melanema(Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Calonema melanema(Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Jonesiopsis melanema(Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Caladenia melanema, commonly known as the ballerina orchid, [2] is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a rare orchid with a single erect, hairy leaf and one or two cream-coloured to pale yellow flowers with red markings and black tips on the sepals and petals.

Contents

Description

Caladenia melanema is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, 40–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 2–7 mm (0.08–0.3 in) wide. One or two cream-coloured flowers with red markings, 40–60 mm (1.6–2.4 in) long and 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) wide are borne on a stalk 80–150 mm (3–6 in) tall. The sepals and petals are covered with dark, reddish-brown to black, thread-like tips. The dorsal sepal is erect, 20–45 mm (0.8–2 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and the lateral sepals are a similar length but slightly wider. The lateral sepals spread widely or droop slightly. The petals are 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 1.5–3 mm (0.06–0.1 in) wide and arranged like the lateral sepals. The labellum is 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide, white with red stripes, spots and blotches and the tip is curled under. The sides of the labellum have short, white-tipped teeth and there are two rows of calli in the centre. Flowering occurs from August to mid-September. [3] [4] [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia melanema was first described in 2001 by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown from a specimen collected near Lake Grace and the description was published in Nuytsia . [1] The specific epithet (melanema) is derived from the Ancient Greek words melas meaning "black" [5] :149 and nema meaning "thread" [5] :798 referring to the black hairs on the ends of the sepals and petals. [4]

Distribution and habitat

The ballerina orchid is only known from a single population near Lake Altham in the Mallee biogeographic region where it grows in sand near salt lakes. [6] [7]

Conservation

Only about 300 mature plants from two populations of C. melanema were known in 2006. The species is classified as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife [7] and is listed as "Critically Endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . The main threats to the species are land clearing (although most of the population is now in a reserve), grazing by kangaroos, increasing salinity and road maintenance. [6]

Related Research Articles

Caladenia bicalliata subsp. bicalliata, commonly known as the limestone spider orchid or dwarf limestone spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is native to the south-west of Western Australia and coastal areas of South Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and one or two cream-coloured flowers with reddish-brown tips.

<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 excelsa</i> species of plant

Caladenia excelsa, commonly known as the giant spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a rare species with a single, hairy leaf and up to three cream-coloured to greenish-cream flowers with long, drooping sepals and petals. It is one of the tallest spider orchids in Western Australia and, with Caladenia splendens, has the largest flowers of any Western Australian orchid.

Caladenia exilis subsp. vanleeuwenii, commonly known as the Moora spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a relatively rare spider orchid with a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three variably-coloured flowers with a small white, red-striped labellum. It differes from subspecies exilis in having variably coloured flowers, different growth habit, earlier flowering and different habitat.

Caladenia hiemalis, commonly known as the dwarf common 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, cream-coloured flowers with a small, red-striped labellum. It has an early flowering period and its flowering is stimulated by summer fires.

<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 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.

Caladenia meridionalis, commonly known as the south coast spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an early-flowering orchid with a single erect, hairy leaf and one or two white flowers with long, drooping lateral sepals and petals.

Caladenia nobilis, commonly known as the noble 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 large white flowers with a red-marked labellum.

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

Caladenia paradoxa, commonly known as the ironcaps 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 small creamy-white flowers. It was previously thought to be the same species as the eastern Australian Caladenia flaccida but is now recognised as distinct.

<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 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 polychroma</i> species of plant

Caladenia polychroma, commonly known as the Joseph's 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 relatively large and colourful but smelly flowers.

Caladenia postea, commonly known as the dark-tipped 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 small, pale creamy-white flowers. It has a relatively late flowering period compared to similar spider orchids.

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

Caladenia remota subsp. parva, commonly known as the Perenjori 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 creamy-white to pale yellow flowers. It has a more restricted and more westerly distribution than subspecies remota.

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

Caladenia splendens, commonly known as the splendid spider orchid, or splendid white 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 mostly white flowers with a fringe of long teeth on the sides of the labellum. Along with the giant spider orchid, Caladenia excelsa it is the largest of the spider orchids.

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

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 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 melanema". APNI. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  2. 1 2 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 30. ISBN   9780646562322.
  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. 111. ISBN   1877069124.
  4. 1 2 Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 64. ISBN   9780980296457.
  5. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  6. 1 2 "Approved Conservation Advice for Caladenia melanema (Ballerina Orchid)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Caladenia melanema". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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