Caladenia rosea

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Caladenia rosea
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. rosea
Binomial name
Caladenia rosea

Caladenia rosea is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to relatively inaccessible, high lateritic plateaux in a high rainfall area in south-western Western Australia. [1] [2] [3] It is a terrestrial orchid with a single hairy leaf and up to three pink flowers on a thin, sparsely-hairy stem. It is similar to Caladenia flava but is distinguished by the perianth being pink to dark pink with prominent red striping and spotting on the dorsal sepal and lateral petals. Caladenia rosea mimics Hypocalymma robustum (Myrtaceae) in terms of flowering time, colour and scent. [4]

Contents

Description

Caladenia rosea is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with spheroid, annually replaced tubers situated 8–15 cm below the soil surface and forming a single, hairy, linear leaf, tinged purple and usually with darker purple veining below, 5–15 cm (2–6 in) long and 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. There are up to three flowers borne on a slender, fine, sparsely silky-hairy raceme, 10–25 cm (4–10 in) tall, with a bract in halfway up the stem. The sepals and petals are spreading, pink throughout with various amounts of deeper pink dots and stripes. The dorsal sepal is linear to ovate lanceolate, 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long. The lateral sepals spathulate to ovate-lanceolate and petals ovate usually with a single darker pink stripe. The labellum is prominently trilobed with a raised yellow plate near the base of the middle lobe, yellow at the base, with rows of white calli extending from either side of the plate and the lateral lobes suffused with pink, 4–5 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long. Column is curved over the raised central plate, yellow with prominent white lateral wings.[ citation needed ]

Taxonomy and naming

The first formal description of this orchid was by Kingsley Dixon and Maarten Christenhusz in 2018, but the species was initially not adopted by Florabase. [2] It was confused for the hybrid C. × spectabilis, which does occur in the area, but has orange flowers and occurs in very small numbers, whereas this species is fertile and is known from larger populations.[ citation needed ]

Distribution and habitat

Caladenia rosea grows sympatrically with Caladenia lateritica in shallow lateritic regolith that overlays massive bauxite. The open jarrah ( Eucalyptus marginata ) and marri ( Corymbia calophylla ) woodland has an understory of Banksia sessilis , Conostylis setosa , Hypocalymma robustum , Orthosanthus laxus , Xanthorrhoea preissii , Phyllanthus calycinus and Stylidium species.[ citation needed ]

Ecology

Caladenia rosea is putatively mimicking flowers of the Swan River myrtle ( Hypocalymma robustum ), which has a similar colour and scent. We assume that this orchid is pollinated by the same insects as Hypocalymma robustum (probably native bees). As for Caladenia lateritica , C. rosea is restricted to the shallow soils overlaying massive bauxite in a confined, high rainfall region that is now subject to strip mining for bauxite. The species is therefore threatened with extinction.

Related Research Articles

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<i>Caladenia abbreviata</i> Species of orchid endemic to Western Australia

Caladenia abbreviata, commonly known as the coastal 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, creamy-yellow flowers on a flowering stem up to 35 cm (10 in) high. Although the flowers have long, thread-like petals and sepals, they are shorter and darker than those of other spider orchids. It is a rare, relatively recently discovered species although often found near human activities.

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

Caladenia attingens, commonly known as mantis orchid, is a species of flowering 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 dundasiae</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia dundasiae, commonly known as the Patricia's spider orchid and Dundas spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a rare orchid with a single hairy leaf and one or two, usually red flowers with thin, stiffly-held lateral sepals and petals.

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

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 gardneri</i> Species of orchid

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.

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

Caladenia hirta subsp. hirta, commonly known as the sugar candy orchid or candy orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single leaf and up to three creamy-white or pink flowers with brownish tips and a brown back.

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

Caladenia hirta subsp. rosea, commonly known as the pink candy orchid or candy orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a widespread and common orchid which has a single leaf, up to three pale pink to deep pink flowers and often grows in clumps.

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

Caladenia lorea, commonly known as the blushing 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 cream, pink and red flowers and often hybridises with the white spider orchid producing intermediate forms.

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

Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans, commonly known as the little pink fairy or dwarf pink fairy, 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 small, pink flowers which have a labellum with three distinct lobes.

Caladenia reptans subsp. impensa, commonly known as the pale pink fairy, 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 pale pink flowers which have a labellum with three distinct lobes. It is similar to subspecies reptans except that its leaf is green on both sides and the flowers are larger and on a taller flowering spike.

<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 saxicola</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia saxicola, commonly known as the banded ironstone 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 one or two dull creamy-white to pale yellow flowers with spreading lateral sepals and petals.

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

Caladenia pygmaea, commonly known as the pygmy finger orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to South Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single erect, sparsely hairy leaf and a single pink flower with red stripes on the labellum. It was formerly known as a variety of Caladenia carnea.

Caladenia lateritica, also known as white primrose orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to relatively inaccessible, high lateritic plateaux in a high rainfall area in south-western Western Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and one or two white flowers on a thin, sparsely-hairy stem. It is similar to Caladenia flava but is distinguished by its fragrant white versus yellow flowers with prominent red stripes and spots on the dorsal sepal and lateral petals. Caladenia lateritica mimics Conostylis setosa (Haemodoraceae) in terms of flowering time, height, colour and fragrance. It also shares a native bee pollinator with Conostylis setosa, which provides pollen and nectar whereas the orchid is rewardless.

<i>Rhizanthella johnstonii</i> Species of orchid

Rhizanthella johnstonii, commonly known as south coast underground orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a subterranean herb that has a horizontal rhizome and a head of up to sixty small white flowers with a pink tinge, surrounded by relatively large, cream-coloured to pale pinkish cream bracts.

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

Caladenia hirta, commonly known as sugar candy orchid, flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single broad, hairy leaf and up to six white or pink and white flowers with pink markings.

References

  1. "Two new species of orchid discovered during bush walk". Australian Geographic. Australia: Australian Geographic. 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  2. 1 2 Western Australian Herbarium, Biodiversity and Conservation Science. "FloraBase—the Western Australian Flora". florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au. Tasmania, Australia: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, Government of Tasmania . Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  3. DIXON, KINGSLEY; Christenhusz, Maarten (2018-01-12). "Endangered fairies: two new species of Caladenia (Orchidaceae; Orchidoideae; Diurideae), from the bauxite plateaux of southwestern Western Australia". Phytotaxa. 334: 87. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.334.1.15 . Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  4. Dixon, Kingsley W.; Christenhusz, Maarten J. M. (2018). "Endangered fairies: two new species of Caladenia (Orchidaceae; Orchidoideae; Diurideae), from the bauxite plateaux of southwestern Western Australia". Phytotaxa. 334 (1): 87–90. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.334.1.15.