Caladenia bryceana subsp. cracens

Caladenia bryceana subsp. cracens, commonly known as the northern dwarf spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single spreading, hairy leaf and a single green to apricot-coloured flower. It is a small orchid and difficult to find, even when quite abundant in a particular location. It has a more northerly distribution than subspecies bryceana which grows closer to Albany.

Northern dwarf spider orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. bryceana
Subspecies:
C. b. subsp. cracens
Trinomial name
Caladenia bryceana subsp. cracens

Description

Caladenia bryceana subsp. cracens is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) long and about 8 mm (0.3 in) wide. The single flower is borne on a stem 3–8 cm (1–3 in) high and is 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) long and 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) wide. The lateral sepals and petals are short and spreading. The labellum is green to apricot-coloured, has a red tip and smooth edges. There is a band of calli along the centre of the labellum. It is distinguished from subspecies bryceana by its smaller calli and by its lateral sepals which have their edges rolled under. Flowering occurs between August and early September and is followed by a non-fleshy, dehiscent capsule containing a large number of seeds.[1][2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia bryceana was first formally described by Richard Rogers in 1914[4] but in 2001 Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown described two subspecies, including subspecies cracens and the description of the two subspecies was published in Nuytsia.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Northern dwarf spider orchid occurs between Northampton and Nerren Nerren Station in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region where it grows in heathland and woodland, often under thickets of Melaleuca uncinata.[1][2][6][7]

Conservation

Caladenia bryceana subsp. cracens is classified as "endangered" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and as "rare flora" under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.[6][8]

References
  1. 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. 131. ISBN 9780980348149.
  2. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 169. ISBN 9780646562322.
  3. "Caladenia". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  4. "Caladenia bryceana". APNI. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  5. "Caladenia bryceana subsp. cracens". APNI. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  6. "Caladenia bryceana subsp. cracens". 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.
  8. "Approved conservation advice for Caladenia bryceana subsp. cracens (Northern dwarf spider orchid)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
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