Caladenia microchila

Caladenia microchila, commonly known as the western wispy spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is relatively common orchid with a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three wispy white flowers with narrow lateral sepals and petals and a white labellum with red markings.

Caladenia microchila flower detail

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

Description

Caladenia microchila is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, 80–120 mm (3–5 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. Up to three white flowers 30–90 mm (1–4 in) long and 30–60 mm (1–2 in) wide are borne on a stalk 90–250 mm (4–10 in) tall. The sepals and petals have long, dark, reddish-brown, thread-like tips. The dorsal sepal is erect, 35–70 mm (1–3 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 45–70 mm (2–3 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide and turned stiffly downwards. The petals are 25–60 mm (1–2 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and held horizontally or slightly upwards. The labellum is 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide, white with red stripes and spots and the tip is curled under. The sides of the labellum have short, blunt teeth and there two rows of creamish-white, anvil-shaped calli, sometimes with red tips, along the centre. Flowering occurs from July to early October.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia microchila was first described in 2001 by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown and the description was published in Nuytsia.[1] The specific epithet (microchila) is derived from the Ancient Greek words mikros meaning "small"[5]:488 and cheilos meaning "lip"[5]:200 referring to the relatively small labellum of this species.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The western wispy spider orchid occurs between Kondinin and Madura in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Hampton and Mallee biogeographic regions where it grows in a range of habitats including granite outcrops and salt lake margins.[2][3][4][6]

Conservation

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

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References
  1. "Caladenia microchila". APNI. Retrieved 21 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. p. 106. 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. 65. ISBN 9780980296457.
  4. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 62. ISBN 9780646562322.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  6. "Caladenia microchila". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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