Caladenia stricta

Caladenia stricta, commonly known as the upright spider orchid[2] or rigid-combed spider-orchid[3] is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and usually only one pale green flower with red lines along the sepals and petals.

Upright spider orchid
Caladenia stricta growing north-west of Horsham
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. stricta
Binomial name
Caladenia stricta
Synonyms[1]

Arachnorchis stricta (R.J.Bates) D.L.Jones and M.A.Clem.

Description

Caladenia stricta is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. It has a single, dull green, hairy, linear leaf, 60–100 mm long and 10–15 mm wide with reddish blotches near its base. Usually only one flower 25–40 mm across is borne on a spike 150–400 mm tall. The flowers are pale green with central stripes along the sepals and petals which taper to fine points The dorsal sepal is erect, 25–33 mm long, 2–3 mm wide and curves gently forwards. The lateral sepals have about the same dimensions as the dorsal sepal and are usually curved downwards and sometimes cross each other. The petals are 16–23 mm long, 2–3 mm wide and held horizontally or curve downwards. The labellum is 15–17 mm long, 14–16 mm wide, and pale green with a pale yellow central region and a dark red tip. Each side of the labellum has between five and seven thin green teeth up to 5 mm long. The tip of the labellum curls under and there are four to six rows of thick, crowded, reddish-black calli up to 2 mm long, along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from September to November.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

This orchid was first formally described in 1984 by Robert Bates from a specimen collected on the Yorke Peninsula. He gave it the name Caladenia dilatata var. stricta and published the description in the Journal of the Native Orchid Society of South Australia[4] but in 1987 raised the variety to species status.[1] The specific epithet (stricta) is a Latin word meaning "draw together".[5]

Distribution and habitat

The upright spider orchid occurs in the Little Desert and Big Desert areas of Victoria and in south-eastern areas of South Australia. It grows in mallee scrub and woodland.[2][3][6]

Conservation

Caladenia stricta is classified as "vulnerable" in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.[3]

References
  1. "Caladenia stricta". APNI. Retrieved 20 March 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. p. 93. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Jeanes, Jeff. "Caladenia stricta". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: vicflora. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  4. "Caladenia dilatata var. stricta". APNI. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 414.
  6. "Census of South Australian Plants: Caladenia". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
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