Caladenia ampla

Caladenia ampla, commonly known as the dainty spider orchid,[2] is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and a single flower which is sometimes yellowish-green flower with red stripes and sometimes entirely red.

Dainty spider orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. ampla
Binomial name
Caladenia ampla
(D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh.[1]
Synonyms

Description

Caladenia ampla is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single hairy leaf, 6–10 cm (2–4 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide.[3]

A single flower (rarely two) is borne on a spike up to 22 cm (9 in) high. The dorsal sepal is erect, oblong to lance-shaped, 30–37 mm (1.2–1.5 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. It tapers near the end which terminates in a glandular structure 6.5–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. The lateral sepals are oblong to lance-shaped, 30–37 mm (1.2–1.5 in) long, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide and end in a gland similar to the one on the dorsal sepal. The petals are 28–32 mm (1.1–1.3 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide and taper to a point. The labellum is a broad egg-shape, curves forward, 14–16 mm (0.55–0.63 in) long and 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide when flattened. The labellum is cream-coloured with red veins and a dark red tip, sometimes entirely red. There are 9 to 12 pairs of calli along the edge of the labellum, decreasing in length towards its front. There are four rows of foot-shaped calli in the centre of the labellum, also smaller towards the tip. Flowering occurs in September and October.[3]

C. ampla labelled

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by David L. Jones in 2006 and given the name Arachnorchis ampla.[4][5] The description was published in Australian Orchid Research. In 2007, Gary Backhouse changed the name to Caladenia ampla and the change was published in "The Victorian Naturalist".[6] The specific epithet (ampla) is a Latin word meaning "large",[7] referring to the unusually broad labellum of this orchid.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Caladenia ampla is only known from the goldfields region of Victoria where it grows in mallee scrub and woodlands.[3]

Conservation

This species is classified as "Endangered" by the Victorian government.[2][3]

gollark: ↑ literally metaphorically Tux1
gollark: https://tenor.com/view/dinosaur-terrifying-attack-roar-angry-gif-11807028
gollark: We are not.
gollark: According to the latest research this is highly unlikely.
gollark: https://tenor.com/view/clock-helvetica-falling-numbers-glitch-gif-17952481↓ Tux1's clock

References
  1. "Caladenia ampla". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. "Advisory list of rare and threatened plants in Victoria 2014" (PDF). The State of Victoria Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  3. Jeanes, Jeffrey. "Caladenia ampla". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: Vicflora. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  4. "Arachnorchis ampla". APNI. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  5. Jones, David L. (2006). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 5: 50–51.
  6. "Caladenia ampla". APNI. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 86.
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