Caladenia mesocera
| Narrow-lipped dragon orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Caladenia |
| Species: | C. mesocera |
| Binomial name | |
| Caladenia mesocera Hopper & A.P.Br.[1] | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
| |
Caladenia mesocera, commonly known as the narrow-lipped dragon orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and usually only one greenish-yellow and red flower with a relatively long, insect-like labellum. Its distribution is further inland than that of most other caladenias.
Description
Caladenia mesocera is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, 40–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 4–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. Usually only one greenish-yellow and red flower 30–40 mm (1–2 in) long and 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide is borne on a stalk 80–250 mm (3–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is bent backwards, 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 18–25 mm (0.7–1 in) long, 2.5–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and spread widely. The petals are 15–24 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and downswept. The labellum is 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 3–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide, insect-like and stiffly hinged. It is densely hairy, greenish-yellow and red with a "false head" 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) across at its highest point and there is a horn-like gland 2 mm (0.08 in) long either side of the "head". Flowering occurs from August to early October.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
Caladenia mesocera was first described in 2001 by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Phillip Brown and the description was published in Nuytsia.[1] The specific epithet (mesocera) is derived from the Ancient Greek words meso meaning "middle"[5]:520 and keras meaning "horn"[5]:422 referring to the horn-like structures on the midpoint of the labellum.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The narrow-lipped dragon orchid occurs between Bonnie Rock and Lake Moore east of Wubin, in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Mallee and Yalgoo biogeographic regions where it grows near salt lakes and in other places that are moist in winter.[2][3][4][6]
Conservation
Caladenia mesocera is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[6]
References
- 1 2 3 "Caladenia mesocera". APNI. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- 1 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. 99. ISBN 1877069124.
- 1 2 3 Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 141. ISBN 9780980296457.
- 1 2 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 184. ISBN 9780646562322.
- 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
- 1 2 "Caladenia mesocera". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
External links
Data related to Caladenia mesocera at Wikispecies