Caladenia fuscolutescens

Caladenia fuscolutescens, commonly known as the ochre 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 brownish-yellow flowers with a pale yellow, red-striped labellum. It is most common in spring after bushfires in the previous summer.

Ochre spider orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. fuscolutescens
Binomial name
Caladenia fuscolutescens
Synonyms[1]
  • Calonemorchis fuscolutescens (Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Calonema fuscolutescens (Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Jonesiopsis fuscolutescens (Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Description

Caladenia fuscolutescens is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, 70–150 mm (3–6 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. One or two flowers 70–130 mm (3–5 in) long and 50–100 mm (2–4 in) wide are borne on a stalk 150–300 mm (6–10 in) high. The flowers are brownish-yellow and the lateral sepals and petals have long, drooping, brownish, thread-like tips. The dorsal sepal is erect, 45–75 mm (2–3 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide at the base. The lateral sepals are 45–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide at the base and the petals are 45–60 mm (1.8–2.4 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The labellum is 12–17 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide and pale yellow with red stripes. The sides of the labellum have short, brownish-yellow teeth and the tip of the labellum is curved downwards. There are two rows of anvil-shaped calli along the centre of the labellum. Flowering occurs in September and October, often following bushfires the previous summer.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia fuscolutescens was first described in 2001 by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown from a specimen collected near Wellstead and the description was published in Nuytsia.[1] The specific epithet (fuscolutescens) is derived from the Latin words fuscus meaning "dark", "swarthy" or "dusky"[5]:149 and lutescens meaning "becoming yellow",[5]:872 referring to the distinctive colour of the flowers.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Ochre spider orchid occurs between Albany and Wellstead in the Esperance Plains and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions where it grows in scrub and woodland, usually in sandy soil.[2][3][4][6]

Conservation

Caladenia fuscolutescens is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[6]

References
  1. "Caladenia fuscolutescens". APNI. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 104–105. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 62. ISBN 9780980296457.
  4. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 48. ISBN 9780646562322.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  6. "Caladenia fuscolutescens". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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