Caladenia arrecta

Caladenia arrecta, commonly known as the reaching 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 red, yellow and green flowers on a flowering stem up to 35 cm (10 in) high. It is distinguished from the similar C. longiclavata and C. magniclavata by its upswept petals and distinctive calli. Although not common, it is widespread in south-eastern coastal areas.

Reaching spider orchid
Caladenia arrecta in the Stirling Range National Park

Priority Three — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. arrecta
Binomial name
Caladenia arrecta
Hopper & A.P.Br.[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Arachnorchis arrecta (Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Calonemorchis arrecta (Hopper & A.P.Br.) Szlach. & Rutk.

Description

Caladenia arrecta is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf 10–30 cm (4–10 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The inflorescence is a raceme, 12–35 cm (5–10 in) high with up to three flowers. The flowers are 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long, 3–5 cm (1–2 in) wide and red, yellow and green. The dorsal sepal is erect and the lateral sepals have prominently clubbed, glandular ends pointing obliquely downwards. The petals are also clubbed but spread upwards. The labellum is red with fringes of pointed calli and two pairs of rows of deep red calli along its centre. Flowering occurs between late July and mid-October.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia arrecta was first formally described by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown in 2001 from a specimen collected near Bindoon. The description was published in Nuytsia[1] and the specific epithet (arrecta) is a Latin word meaning "upright",[5] in reference to the upright petals.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Reaching spider orchid occurs in scattered locations between Esperance and Bindoon in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions[6] where it grows in a variety of soils and habitats.[2][3][7]

Conservation

Caladenia arrecta is classified as "Not Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[6]

References
  1. "Caladenia arrecta". APNI. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  2. Brown, Andrew; Dixon, Kingsley; French, Christopher; Brockman, Garry (2013). Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia. Simon Nevill Publications. p. 112. ISBN 9780980348149.
  3. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 159. ISBN 9780646562322.
  4. "Caladenia". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 103.
  6. "Caladenia arrecta". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  7. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 76. ISBN 0646402439.
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