Caladenia filifera

Caladenia filifera, commonly known as the blood spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a relatively common orchid in its natural range, often forming clumps, and has a single hairy leaf and up to three blood-red flowers.

Caladenia filifera habit

Blood spider orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. filifera
Binomial name
Caladenia filifera
Synonyms[1]
  • Caladenia filamentosa var. filifera (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
  • Caladenia filamentosa R.Br.)
  • Calonema filiferum (Lindl.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
  • Calonema filiferum (Lindl.) Szlach.
  • Calonemorchis filifera (Lindl.) Szlach.
  • Jonesiopsis filifera (Lindl.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Description

Caladenia filifera is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which often forms clumps or tufts. It has a single erect, hairy leaf, 60–150 mm (2–6 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. Up to three blood red flowers 100–120 mm (4–5 in) long and 60–80 mm (2–3 in) wide are borne on a stalk 150–350 mm (6–10 in) high. The dorsal sepal is erect, 50–100 mm (2–4 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide at the base. The lateral sepals and petals are a similar size and shape to dorsal sepal but are held horizontally near their bases then taper to thin, wispy, drooping tips. The labellum is 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide and is entirely blood red with a few darker marks, sometimes white near its base. The sides of the labellum have short, blunt teeth, its tip is curved downwards and there are two rows of anvil-shaped calli along its centre. Flowering occurs from August to October.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia filifera was first described by John Lindley in 1840 and the description was published in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.[1][5] The specific epithet (filifera) is derived from the Latin word filum meaning "a thread"[6]:798 and the suffix -fero meaning "to bear" or "to carry".[6]:187

Distribution and habitat

The blood spider orchid occurs near Watheroo in the Avon Wheatbelt, and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions where it grows in well-drained soils in forest and scrubland. Its flowering is stimulated by fires in the previous summer. It previously was more widespread but its distribution has been reduced due to changes in fire regimes.[2][3][4][7]

Conservation

Caladenia filifera is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[7]

References
  1. "Caladenia filifera". APNI. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 103. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. 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.
  4. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 56. ISBN 9780646562322.
  5. Lindley, John (1840). A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony. London: James Ridgway. p. lii. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  7. "Caladenia filifera". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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