Caladenia xantha

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Primrose spider orchid
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. xantha
Binomial name
Caladenia xantha
Synonyms
  • Calonemorchis xantha (Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Calonema xantum (Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Jonesiopsis xantha (Hopper & A.P.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Caladenia xantha, commonly known as the primrose spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three yellow flowers with a cream-coloured, brown-striped labellum.

Description

Caladenia xantha is a terrestrial,

perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, 80–200 mm long and 3–5 mm wide. Up to three pale to bright yellow flowers, 60–100 mm long and 70–100 mm wide are borne on a stalk 180–260 mm tall. The sepals and petals have dark brown, thread-like tips. The dorsal sepal is erect, 60–80 mm long and about 2 mm wide. The lateral sepals are 40–60 mm long, about 3 mm wide and curve downwards. The petals are 30–50 mm long, 2–3 mm wide and arranged like the lateral sepals. The labellum is 10–15 mm long, 7–10 mm wide and creamy-yellow with brown stripes and spots. The sides of the labellum are serrated, the tip is curled downwards and there are two rows of anvil-shaped, cream-coloured calli along the mid-line. Flowering occurs from July to early September.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia xantha was first formally described in 2001 by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown from a specimen collected near Katanning and the description was published in Nuytsia.[1] The specific epithet xanthos is an Ancient Greek word meaning "yellow", "yellowish-red", "orange" or "golden"[5] referring to the flower colour of this orchid.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The primrose spider orchid is mostly found between the

biogeographic regions where it grows in well-drained soil under wandoo and sheoak trees.[2][3][4][6]

Conservation

Caladenia xantha is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Caladenia xantha". APNI. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ .
  5. ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 872.
  6. ^
    Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
    .