Caladenia dilatata
Green-comb spider-orchid | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
Tribe: | Diurideae |
Genus: | Caladenia |
Species: | C. dilatata
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Binomial name | |
Caladenia dilatata R.Br.[1] | |
Synonyms[1] | |
List
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Caladenia dilatata, commonly known as the green-comb spider-orchid
Description
Caladenia dilatata is a terrestrial,
Taxonomy and naming
Caladenia dilatata was first formally described in 1810 by
The specific epithet (dilatata) is a Latin word meaning "widened" or "expanded".[8]
A similar species, the endangered C. tensa which occurs in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, was formerly included with C. dilatata.[9]
Distribution and habitat
Green-comb spider-orchid occurs in Victoria, the south-east of South Australia and Tasmania.[1][2] It grows in coastal or near-coastal heath and in open forest further inland.[4][10]
Reproduction
The flower of this orchid closes after pollination, forming a papery capsule.[11] Yellow, brown, or black dust-sized seeds are produced in the capsule, which dries and splits open at maturity, releasing millions of seeds that are dispersed by wind or water.[11] However, the seeds only germinate upon infection by mycorrhizal fungus, and so few seeds mature into full plants.[11]
Ecology
The elongated tips of the flower produces sexual attractants and attracts pollinators in pseudocopulation, where the pollinators think the flower is a female. Thynnid wasps are often attracted to the flower with the notion of copulating with the flower.
Caladenia dilatata has a mutualistic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, where the fungus acquires some nutrition from the orchid, and the orchid requires the fungus to germinate.[11] However, the orchid’s dependence on the fungus is not well known.
Although the orchid’s fire ecology is not well understood, it is believed that forest fires help clear surrounding vegetation, increasing light levels and temperature at ground level.[9] With fewer competing plants, there is also believed to be an increase in moisture levels that can benefit Caladenia dilatata.
Food
The Kulin name of Caladenia dilatata is koolin, and its tubers are eaten either raw or baked.[3][12]
References
- ^ a b c "Caladenia dilatata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Caladenia dilatata". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ a b De Angelis, David. "Aboriginal Use Plants of the Greater Melbourne Area" (PDF). Victorian Volcanic Plains Conservation Management News. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ a b Jeanes, Jeff. "Caladenia dilatata". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: Vicflora. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ "Caladenia dilatata". APNI. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 325. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ISBN 9781107693753.
- ^ a b "Caladenia tensa — Greencomb Spider-orchid, Rigid Spider-orchid". Australian Government Department of theEnvironment. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ Jones, David L. (1998). "Contributions to Tasmanian Orchidology". Australian Orchid Research. 3 (2): 30.
- ^ a b c d "Under Storey Network".
- ^ Brough, Smyth R (1878). The aborigines of Victoria: with notes relating to the habits of the natives of other parts of Australia and Tasmania. Melbourne: John Ferres, Government Printer.