Cyanicula caerulea, commonly known as the eastern tiny blue china orchid,[2] blue caladenia or blue fairy[3] is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single narrow leaf and a single blue flower.
| Eastern tiny blue china orchid | |
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| Cyanicula caerulea growing on Black Mountain in the A.C.T. | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Cyanicula |
| Species: | C. caerulea
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| Binomial name | |
| Cyanicula caerulea | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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List
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Description
editCyanicula caerulea is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single, sparsely hairy leaf, 20–70 mm (0.8–3 in) long, 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide and which usually lies flat on the ground. A single pale to dark blue, rarely white flower 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long and wide is borne on a stalk 50–150 mm (2–6 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is erect, 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals and petals are 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and spread like the fingers of a hand. The labellum is 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and blue with dark blue bars. The sides of the labellum curve upwards and the small tip turns downwards. There are two rows of yellow-tipped calli along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from July to September.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
editCyanicula caerulea was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae.[5][6] In 2000, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown transferred the species to Cyanicula as C. caerulea.[7] The specific epithet (caerulea) is a Latin word meaning "sky-blue".[8]
Distribution and habitat
editIn Victoria, C. caerulea is mostly found in central areas growing in stony soil on rocky ridges but it also occurs in coastal heath in the east of the state. In New South Wales and the A.C.T. it grows in woodland and shrub on rocky ridges, mostly in the eastern half of the state. It also occurs in the south-east of Queensland.[2][3][4][9][10]
References
edit- ^ a b "Cyanicula caerulea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ a b c Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 28. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ a b c Weston, Peter. "Cyanicula caerulea". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney; plantnet. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ a b Jeanes, Jeff. "Cyanicula caerulea". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria; vicflora. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ "Caladenia caerulea". APNI. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 324. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ "Cyanicula caerulea". APNI. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 177.
- ^ "Cyanicula caerulea". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ "Caladenia caerulea". The State of Queensland (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection). Retrieved 11 April 2017.