Caladenia subtilis

Caladenia subtilis, commonly known as the delicate spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single leaf and a single greenish to cream-coloured flower with dark red tips on the sepals.

Delicate spider orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. subtilis
Binomial name
Caladenia subtilis
Synonyms

Arachnorchis subtilis (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Description

Caladenia subtilis is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single leaf, 50–110 mm (2–4 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) wide. A single greenish to cream-coloured flower 30–50 mm (1–2 in) wide is borne on a stalk 150–220 mm (6–9 in) tall. The sepals have dark red, club-like glandular tips 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. The dorsal sepal is erect, 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long, about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and spread apart from each other, curving downwards. The petals are 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and arranged like the lateral sepals. The labellum is 13–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long, 8–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide and whitish with a dark red, downcurved tip. The sides of the labellum have red teeth and there are four or six rows of dark red calli up to 1 mm (0.04 in) long, along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from October to November.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia subtilis was first described in 1999 by David Jones from a specimen collected in a state forest near Nowendoc and the description was published in The Orchadian.[1] The specific epithet (subtilis) is a Latin word meaning "fine", "delicate" or "nice".[3]

Distribution and habitat

The delicate spider orchid is only known from areas near Nowendoc and Nundle where it grows in open forest.[2][4]

References
  1. "Caladenia subtilis". APNI. Retrieved 6 April 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. 76. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 132.
  4. "Caladenia subtilis". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
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