Caladenia flavovirens, commonly known as the summer spider orchid,[2] or the Christmas spider orchid[3] is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria in Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and one or two pale greenish-yellow flowers.
| Summer spider orchid | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Caladenia |
| Species: | C. flavovirens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Caladenia flavovirens | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Description
editCaladenia flavovirens is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single hairy, narrow lance-shaped leaf, 150–300 mm (6–10 in) long and 8–20 mm (0.3–0.8 in) wide. One or two pale greenish-yellow flowers are borne on a spike 300–600 mm (10–20 in) high. The sepals and petals taper to brownish, thread-like tips. The dorsal sepal is erect, 90–130 mm (4–5 in) long, about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and the lateral sepals are 100–150 mm (4–6 in) long and 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide. The petals are 75–95 mm (3–4 in) long, about 6 mm (0.2 in) wide. The labellum is egg-shaped, 15–23 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long and 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide with its edges turned up. It is yellowish green with its maroon-coloured tip rolled under. There are many narrow thin teeth along the edges and four or six rows of red or yellow calli along its centre line. Flowering occurs from December to January.[2][3][4][5]
Taxonomy and naming
editCaladenia flavovirens was first formally described by Geoffrey Carr in 1991 from a specimen collected near Montrose. The description was published in Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association Miscellaneous Paper 1.[1] The specific epithet (flavovirens) is from the Latin words flavus meaning “golden-yellow” or "yellow"[6]: 872 and virens meaning "green".[6]: 383
Distribution and habitat
editSummer spider orchid grows among shrubs in near-coastal areas and in open forest with grass or heath on mountains. It is only found in Victoria where it was once common but now rare and possibly extinct in areas near Portland, Lorne and Marlo.[2][3]
Conservation
editCaladenia flavovirens is listed as "rare" in the Department of Environment and Primary Industries Advisory List of Rare Or Threatened Plants In Victoria.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Caladenia flavovirens". APNI. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ 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. 54. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ a b c Jeanes, Jeff. "Caladenia flavovirens". Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria: VicFlora. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ "Caladenia flavovirens". Yarra Ranges shire Council. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ Mayfield, Enid (2010). Flora of the Otway plain & ranges (2nd ed.). Collingwood, VIC: CSIRO Publishing. p. 77. ISBN 9780643098046.
- ^ a b Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
- ^ "Advisory List of Rare Or Threatened Plants In Victoria - 2014" (PDF). Threatened species advisory lists. Department of Environment and Primary Industries (Victoria). Retrieved 4 February 2017.