Kingdom Plantae Family Orchidaceae Genus Caladenia | Order Asparagales Subfamily Orchidoideae Rank Species | |
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Caladenia ancylosa, commonly known as the Genoa spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and a single cream-coloured flower with red markings.
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Description
Caladenia ancylosa is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single hairy leaf, 6–12 cm (2–5 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide.
A single flower is borne on a spike 12–25 cm (5–10 in) high. The dorsal sepal is erect, oblong to lance-shaped, 25–40 mm (1–2 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. It tapers near the end which terminates in a glandular structure 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. The lateral sepals are oblong to lance-shaped, 25–40 mm (0.98–1.6 in) long, 3.5–4.5 mm (0.14–0.18 in) wide and end in a gland similar to the one on the dorsal sepal. The petals are 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and taper to a point. The labellum is a broad egg-shape, curves forward, 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide when flattened. The labellum is cream-coloured at its base but red nearer the tip. There are 7 to 10 pairs of calli along the edge of the labellum, decreasing in length towards its front. There are six rows of foot-shaped calli in the centre of the labellum, also smaller towards the tip. Flowering occurs in September and October.
Taxonomy and naming
The species was first formally described by David L. Jones in 2006 and given the name Arachnorchis ancylosa. The description was published in Australian Orchid Research. In 2007, Gary Backhouse changed the name to Caladenia ancylosa and the change was published in The Victorian Naturalist. The specific epithet (ancylosa) is an Ancient Greek word meaning "bent", "crooked" or "hooked".
Distribution and habitat
Caladenia ancylosa is only known from far east Gippsland where it grows in the shrub layer of tall open forest near Genoa.
Conservation
This species is classified as "Vulnerable" by the Victorian government.