Caladenia macrostylis

Caladenia macrostylis, commonly known as the leaping spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and up to three distinctive pale greenish-yellow and red flowers with a cluster of deep purplish calli in the centre of its labellum.

Caladenia macrostylis habit
Caladenia macrostylis labellum detail

Leaping spider orchid
Caladenia macrostylis growing near Boyup Brook
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. macrostylis
Binomial name
Caladenia macrostylis
Synonyms[1]

Description

Caladenia macrostylis is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, 120–160 mm (5–6 in) long and 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. Up to three pale greenish-yellow and red flowers 40–60 mm (1.6–2.4 in) long and 30–60 mm (1–2 in) wide are borne on a stalk 160–250 mm (6–10 in) tall. The sepals and petals have dark, club-like glandular tips 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long. The dorsal sepal curves forward over the column and is 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide and spread forward and downward. The petals are 25–30 mm (0.98–1.2 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and spread upwards. The labellum is 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 10–11 mm (0.39–0.43 in) wide and yellowish with deep purplish-red lines. The edges of the labellum are curled under and have small, crowded, blunt teeth and the tip is curled under. There is a broad, dense band of blackish calli up to 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long in the centre in the centre of the labellum. Flowering occurs from August to early November.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia macrostylis was first described in 1842 by Robert Fitzgerald and the description was published in Nuytsia.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The leaping spider orchid is found in the area between Albany and Bindoon in the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions where it grows in forest, woodland and coastal scrub.[2][3][4][5]

Conservation

Caladenia macrostylis is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[5]

References
  1. "Caladenia macrostylis". APNI. Retrieved 19 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. 73. 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. 159. ISBN 9780980296457.
  4. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 82. ISBN 9780646562322.
  5. "Caladenia macrostylis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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