Caladenia luteola, commonly known as the lemon spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and up to three lemon-yellow flowers with red stripes on the labellum. It is only known from two small populations near Woodanilling.
| Lemon spider orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Caladenia |
| Species: | C. luteola
|
| Binomial name | |
| Caladenia luteola | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Description
editCaladenia luteola is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, 80–120 mm (3–5 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. Up to three lemon yellow flowers, 60–100 mm (2–4 in) long and 60–90 mm (2–4 in) wide are borne on a stalk 150–250 mm (6–10 in) tall. The sepals and petals have long, brown, thread-like tips. The dorsal sepal is erect, 45–70 mm (2–3 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide and the lateral sepals are 45–75 mm (2–3 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide, spreading stiffly near their base but then drooping. The petals are 45–65 mm (2–3 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide, spread slightly upwards near their bases, then drooping. The labellum is 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long and 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide, cream-coloured to yellow with red or brownish stripes and the tip is curled under. The sides of the labellum have irregular serrations and two rows of broad, anvil-shaped, shiny cream-coloured calli in the centre. Flowering occurs from September to mid-October.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
editCaladenia luteola was first described in 2001 by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown from a specimen collected near Woodanilling and the description was published in Nuytsia.[1][5] The specific epithet (luteola) is a Latin word meaning "yellowish"[6] referring to the colour of the flowers.[3]
Distribution and habitat
editLemon spider orchid occurs between Woodanilling and Katanning in the Avon Wheatbelt biogeographic region where it grows on low, sandy hills near salt lakes and temporary creeks.[2][3][4][7]
Conservation
editCaladenia luteola is classified as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[7] meaning that it is likely to become extinct or is rare, or otherwise in need of special protection.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Caladenia luteola". APNI. Retrieved 19 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. pp. 105–106. 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. 64. ISBN 9780980296457.
- ^ a b Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 74. ISBN 9780646562322.
- ^ Hopper, Stephen D.; Brown, Andrew P. (2001). "Contributions to Western Australian orchidology: 2. New taxa and circumscriptions in Caladenia". Nuytsia. 14 (1/2): 246–248. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 872.
- ^ a b "Caladenia luteola". 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 19 February 2017.