Caladenia roei

Caladenia roei is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is also known as the common clown orchid,^[2] clown orchid, ant orchid, man orchid and jack-in-the-box.^[3][4] It has a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three greenish-yellow and red flowers with a relatively broad labellum. It is a common orchid throughout the south-west and is especially common on granite outcrops.

Clown orchid
Caladenia roei in the Coalseam Conservation Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Orchidoideae
Tribe:	Diurideae
Genus:	Caladenia
Species:	C. roei
Binomial name
Caladenia roei Benth.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Calonema roei (Benth.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. Phlebochilus roei (Benth.) Szlach. Calonemorchis roei (Benth.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. Jonesiopsis roei (Benth.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Description

Caladenia roei is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf, 60–150 mm (2–6 in) long and about 5 mm (0.2 in) wide. Up to three greenish-yellow and red flowers 30–40 mm (1–2 in) long, 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide are borne on a stalk 120–300 mm (5–10 in) tall. The sepals have thick, yellowish-brown, club-like glandular ends 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. The dorsal sepal is erect, 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and often curves gently forward. The lateral sepals and petals are about the same size as the dorsal sepal and turn obliquely downward and form a crucifix-like shape. The labellum is 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 13–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide and greenish-yellow with a small red tip which curls under. The sides of the labellum are smooth, lacking teeth but there is a dense band of dark reddish-purple, calli up to 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long, in the middle of the labellum. Flowering occurs from August to October.^[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia roei was first described in 1873 by Alex George and the description was published in Flora Australiensis.^[1][5] The specific epithet (roei) honours John Septimus Roe.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

The clown orchid is found across a wide area of the south-west of Western Australia from as far north as the Murchison River to as far east as Ravensthorpe where it grows in a range of habitats but is especially common on granite outcrops.^[2][3][4][6]

Conservation

Caladenia roei is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.^[6]