Caladenia robinsonii
Encyclopedia
Caladenia robinsonii, commonly known as the Frankston Spider Orchid is a rare species of orchid which is endemic to Victoria
, Australia
. A shoot arises from the tuber each year in the early autumn producing a solitary leaf in May. In September to October a single (or rarely two) red and creamy yellow flower is produced on a hairy stem up to 30 cm high The flower is up to 4cm in width and has narrow sepals, four of which spread out horizontally plus an erect dorsal sepal.
The flowers exude a scent that mimics pheromone
s of the female Thynnid wasp, which attracts male wasps that pollinate the flowers. The orchid has a symbiotic relationship with a mycorrhizal fungus that enables it to absorb nutrients.
It occurs in Coast Manna Gum woodland, on the Mornington Peninsula
and was first formally described by G.W. Carr in 1991 from material collected in Frankston North
. This population was lost when the locality was developed in the 1990s for housing. However a second population was discovered at Rosebud
in 1990. Potential threats to the latter population, estimated to be around 40 plants, include weed invasion, tramping, fire and grazing by rabbits
. In 2010, 150 of the orchids were planted in rehabilitated areas by volunteers, utilising seed that had been propagated by the Royal Botanic Gardens
.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. A shoot arises from the tuber each year in the early autumn producing a solitary leaf in May. In September to October a single (or rarely two) red and creamy yellow flower is produced on a hairy stem up to 30 cm high The flower is up to 4cm in width and has narrow sepals, four of which spread out horizontally plus an erect dorsal sepal.
The flowers exude a scent that mimics pheromone
Pheromone
A pheromone is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting outside the body of the secreting individual to impact the behavior of the receiving individual...
s of the female Thynnid wasp, which attracts male wasps that pollinate the flowers. The orchid has a symbiotic relationship with a mycorrhizal fungus that enables it to absorb nutrients.
It occurs in Coast Manna Gum woodland, on the Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
and was first formally described by G.W. Carr in 1991 from material collected in Frankston North
Frankston, Victoria
Frankston is a suburb within the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area in Victoria, Australia. It is located 40 km southeast of the state capital Melbourne at the southernmost edge of Greater Melbourne, near the beginnings of the Mornington Peninsula...
. This population was lost when the locality was developed in the 1990s for housing. However a second population was discovered at Rosebud
Rosebud, Victoria
Rosebud is a sea side town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia located approximately 75 km southeast of the Melbourne City Centre. It is wedged between the lower slopes of Arthurs Seat, the shores of Port Phillip Bay and the plains of Boneo. Its Local Government Area is the...
in 1990. Potential threats to the latter population, estimated to be around 40 plants, include weed invasion, tramping, fire and grazing by rabbits
Rabbits in Australia
In Australia, rabbits are a serious mammalian pest and are an invasive species. Annually, European rabbits cause millions of dollars of damage to crops.-Effects on Australia's ecology:...
. In 2010, 150 of the orchids were planted in rehabilitated areas by volunteers, utilising seed that had been propagated by the Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne are internationally renowned botanical gardens located near the centre of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on the south bank of the Yarra River. They are 38 hectares of landscaped gardens consisting of a mix of native and non-native vegetation including over...
.