Caladenia bicalliata subsp. cleistogama, commonly known as the shy limestone spider orchid or sandhill spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is native to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and one or two cream-coloured flowers which are smaller than those in subspecies bacalliata .
| Shy limestone spider orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Caladenia |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | C. b. subsp. cleistogama
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Caladenia bicalliata subsp. cleistogama | |
Description
editCaladenia bicalliata subsp. cleistogama is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which occurs singly or in small clumps. It has a single erect, very hairy, linear to lance-shaped leaf, 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. The inflorescence is a raceme, 10–20 cm (4–8 in) high with one or two flowers, each flower about 25 mm (1 in) long and 10 mm (0.4 in) wide. The dorsal sepal abruptly narrows about one-third of its length from the base. The lateral sepals and petals are much shorter than those of subspecies bicalliata, lack reddish-brown tips and are a paler greenish-cream colour. The labellum is white with red spots and a serrated edge and has two rows of white-tipped calli along its centre. Flowering occurs from August to early September, however the flowers only rarely open fully.[1][2]
Taxonomy and naming
editCaladenia bicalliata was first formally described by Richard Rogers in 1909.[3] In 2001 Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown described two subspecies, including subspecies cleistogama and the description of the two subspecies was published in Nuytsia.[4] The specific epithet (cleistogama) is from the Latin cleistogamus (fertilised within the unopened flower), referring to the self-pollinating habit of this subspecies.[1]
Distribution and habitat
editShy limestone spider orchid occurs in a narrow coastal strip, growing on consolidated sand dunes between William Bay National Park and Cape Arid National Park in the Esperance Plains and Warren biogeographic regions.[5][6]
Conservation
editCaladenia bicalliata subsp. cleistogama is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b Brown, Andrew; Dixon, Kingsley; French, Christopher; Brockman, Garry (2013). Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia. Simon Nevill Publications. p. 53. ISBN 9780980348149.
- ^ Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 27. ISBN 9780646562322.
- ^ "Caladenia bicalliata". APNI. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ "Caladenia bicalliata subsp. cleistogama". APNI. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ a b "Caladenia bicalliata subsp. cleistogama". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 76. ISBN 0646402439.