''Caladenia fitzgeraldii'', commonly known as Fitzgerald's spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family

Orchidaceae Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

and the

Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. ...

. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and usually only one greenish-yellow and red flower.

Description

''Caladenia fitzgeraldii'' is a terrestrial,

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

with an underground

tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing ...

and a single hairy, linear to lance-shaped leaf, long and wide. A single yellowish-green flower wide and with red markings is borne on a spike high. The dorsal sepal is erect but curves forward, long and about wide. The lateral sepals and petals spread widely, turn stiffly downwards and have glandular tips at least long. The lateral sepals are long, wide and the petals are long and wide. The labellum is more or less egg-shaped, long and wide, yellowish near its base and red to maroon near the tip. There are 8 to 12 pairs of linear teeth long along its edges and four rows of red, golfstick-shaped calli along its centre. Flowering occurs from August to November.

Taxonomy and naming

''Caladenia fitzgeraldii'' was first formally described by

Herman Rupp Herman Montague Rucker Rupp (27 December 1872 – 2 September 1956) was an Australian clergyman and botanist who specialised in orchids. He was known throughout his life as Montague Rupp (pronounced "Rupe") and in later life as the "Orchid Man". R ...

in 1942 and the description was published in '' Australian Orchid Review''.

Distribution and habitat

Fitzgerald's spider orchid grows in forest in rocky soil in the Australian Capital Territory and the

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

- Bathurst area of New South Wales.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q9673592 fitzgeraldii Plants described in 1942 Endemic orchids of Australia Orchids of New South Wales Taxa named by Herman Rupp