Caladenia × triangularis, commonly known as the shy spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and up to three pale yellow flowers. A natural hybrid between flava and C. longicauda, it is a rare species found between Perth and Esperance.
| Shy spider orchid | |
|---|---|
| |
| Caladenia × triangularis growing in Wandoo National Park | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Caladenia |
| Species: | C. × triangularis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Caladenia × triangularis | |
Description
editCaladenia × triangularis is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single hairy leaf, 50–100 mm (2–4 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. Up to three pale yellow flowers 50–70 mm (2–3 in) wide are borne on a spike 100–250 mm (4–10 in) tall. The petals and lateral sepals spread widely apart and the labellum is relatively small with a short fringe and four or more rows of calli along its mid-line. Flowering occurs from August to October.[2]
Taxonomy and naming
editCaladeni × triangularis was first formally described 1827 by Richard Sanders Rogers from a specimen collected between Wagin and Narrogin. The description was published in Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia.[3][4] The epithet (triangularis) refers to the shape of the labellum of this orchid.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThe shy spider orchid grows in woodland and shrubland between Perth and Esperance in the Avon Wheatbelt and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions.[2][5]
Conservation
editCaladenia × triangularis is classified as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife,[5] meaning that is rare or near threatened.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Caladenia x triangularis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ a b c Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 461. ISBN 9780980296457.
- ^ "Caladenia x triangularis". APNI. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ Rogers, Richard S. (1927). "Contributions to the Orchidaceous flora of Australia". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia. 51: 10–11. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Caladenia x triangularis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 18 October 2018.