Caladenia sanguinea explained

Caladenia sanguinea, commonly known as red spider orchid or crimson daddy long-legs, is a species of orchid endemic to South Australia. It has a single sparsely hairy leaf and one or two dark red flowers with long, thin sepals and petals.

Description

Caladenia sanguinea is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single sparsely hairy leaf, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. One or two dark red flowers NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide are borne on a stalk NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The sepals and petals have long, thin, thread-like tips. The dorsal sepal is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and about 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The lateral sepals are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and about 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and spread apart from each other, curving downwards. The petals are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and about 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and arranged like the lateral sepals. The labellum is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, about 5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and white with dark red markings. The sides of the labellum have short, broad teeth, the tip of the labellum is curled under and there are two rows of red, anvil-shaped calli along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from August to October.[1]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia sanguinea was first described in 1999 by David Jones from a specimen collected on Kangaroo Island and the description was published in The Orchadian.[2] The specific epithet (sanguinea) is a Latin word meaning "blood", "bloody" or "blood-red".[3]

Distribution and habitat

Crimson daddy long-legs is only found in the Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island botanical regions of South Australia where it grows in mallee woodland and heath.[4] [5]

Conservation

Caladenia sanguinea is classified as "rare" in South Australia.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jones. David L.. A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. 2006. New Holland. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.. 1877069124. 109.
  2. Web site: Caladenia sanguinea. APNI. 18 March 2017.
  3. Book: Brown. Roland Wilbur. The Composition of Scientific Words. 1956. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C.. 152.
  4. Web site: Census of South Australian Plants - Caladenia. State Herbarium of South Australia. 6 April 2017.
  5. Web site: Flora of South Australia - Introduction. State Herbarium of South Australia. 6 April 2017.
  6. Web site: Conservation Advice for Kangaroo Island Narrow-leaved Mallee (Eucalyptus cneorifolia) Woodland. Australian Government Department of the Environment. 6 April 2017.