Caladenia footeana, commonly known as the crimson spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and one or two, relatively small pinkish-red flowers with a white, red-striped labellum. Its relatively small size makes it hard to find in its surroundings.
| Crimson spider orchid | |
|---|---|
| |
| Caladenia footeana in the 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. footeana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Caladenia footeana | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Description
editCaladenia footeana is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which often grows in small clumps of up to ten plants. It has a single erect, hairy leaf, 60–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. One or two flowers 50–90 mm (2–4 in) long and 50–80 mm (2–3 in) wide are borne on a stalk 100–220 mm (4–9 in) high. The flowers are dark pinkish-red with maroon markings and the sepals and petals have long, thread-like tips. The dorsal sepal is erect, 25–40 mm (1–2 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide at the base. The lateral are 30–40 mm (1–2 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide at the base and spread horizontally near the base, then curve or hang downwards. The petals are about the same size as the lateral sepals and hang similarly. The labellum is 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and creamy-white with spreading red lines. The sides of the labellum have short, blunt teeth and the tip of the labellum is curved downwards. There are two rows of reddish, anvil-shaped calli along the centre of the labellum. Flowering occurs from July to early October.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
editCaladenia footeana was first described in 2001 by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown from a specimen collected near a creek in Cockleshell Gully near Jurien Bay and the description was published in Nuytsia.[1] The specific epithet (footeana) honours Herbert Foote, the first president of an Australian orchid study group.[3]
Distribution and habitat
editCrimson spider orchid occurs between Cranbrook and Binnu in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions where it grows in woodland or dense shrubland, and sometimes on granite outcrops.[2][3][4][5]
Conservation
editCaladenia footeana is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[5]
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A clump of Caladenia footeana
References
edit- ^ a b c "Caladenia footeana". APNI. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ a b Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 104. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ 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. 61. ISBN 9780980296457.
- ^ a b Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 54. ISBN 9780646562322.
- ^ a b "Caladenia footeana". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.