Caladenia bartlettii | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
Tribe: | Diurideae |
Genus: | Caladenia |
Species: | C. bartlettii
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Binomial name | |
Caladenia bartlettii | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Caladenia bartlettii is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New Zealand. It is a ground orchid with a single narrow, hairy leaf and a thin wiry stem usually bearing one short-lived mauve to pink flower.
Caladenia bartlettii is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb, sometimes solitary or in groups of up to ten individuals. It has an underground tuber and a single hairy, narrow linear leaf up to 10 cm (4 in) long, 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and dark purplish or reddish-green. [1]
One, sometimes two flowers up to 20 mm (0.8 in) in diameter are borne on a thin, sparsely hairy, wiry spike, 30 cm (10 in) high. The sepals and petals are a dark magenta colour shading to white in the lower parts. The dorsal sepal is erect and the lateral sepals are elliptic in shape with a rounded end and are slightly larger than the petals. The labellum has three lobes with red stripes, the mid-lobe triangular in shape, curled under and dark yellow with a wavy edge. There are two rows of bright yellow-tipped calli along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from October to December but the flowers are self-pollinating and only last for a few days. [1] [2]
The species was first formally described in 1949 by Edwin Hatch as a variety of Caladenia carnea and the description was published in Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. [3] The name was changed to Caladenia bartlettii in 1997. [4] The specific epithet (bartlettii) honours Francis (Frank) William Bartlett (1896-1979) of Silverdale, "whose knowledge of the gumlands flora has made his home the mecca of Auckland enthusiasts for many years". [5]
This caladenia grows in shady places in poor soil, always in forests dominated by kauri trees. It is found on both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. [1] [2] [6]
Caladenia bartlettii was classified in 2012 as "At Risk - Naturally Uncommon". [1]