# Pheladenia

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pheladenia
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pheladenia.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheladenia
> Source revision: 1350316563
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Genus of orchids

Blue fairy orchid Pheladenia deformis Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Orchidaceae Subfamily: Orchidoideae Tribe: Diurideae Subtribe: Caladeniinae Genus: Pheladenia D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. Species: P. deformis Binomial name Pheladenia deformis (R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. Synonyms[1] Caladenia deformis R.Br. Cyanicula deformis (R.Br.) Hopper & A.P.Br. Pentisea deformis (R.Br.) Szlach. Caladenia unguiculata Lindl. Caladenia barbata Lindl. Caladenia deformis var. albiflora Benth. Caladenia deformis var. alba Guilf.

***Pheladenia deformis***, commonly known as **blue fairy orchid** or **blue beard** is the only species of the [flowering plant](/source/Flowering_plant) [genus](/source/Genus) *Pheladenia* in the orchid family, [Orchidaceae](/source/Orchidaceae) and is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [Australia](/source/Australia). It was originally named as *Caladenia deformis* and has since had several name changes. Plants have a single, narrow, hairy leaf and usually blue flowers with relatively short, broad sepals and petals and an unusual [labellum](/source/Labellum_(botany)).

*Pheladenia deformis* labellum detail

## Description

*Pheladenia deformis* is a terrestrial, [perennial](/source/Perennial_plant), [deciduous](/source/Deciduous), [sympodial](/source/Sympodial) herb with a few inconspicuous, fine roots and a [tuber](/source/Tuber) partly surrounded by a fibrous [sheath](/source/Tunica_(biology)). The tuber produces two "droppers" which become daughter tubers in the following year. There is a single hairy [convolute](/source/Convolute_(botany)) leaf at the base of the plant. The leaf is linear, 3–10 cm (1–4 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide with a few hairs, especially on the edges, about 1 mm (0.04 in) long.[2][3][4]

There is usually a single flower on a stem 5–15 cm (2–6 in) high. The three [sepals](/source/Sepal) and two [lateral](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lateral) [petals](/source/Petal) are 14–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The outer surface usually has a few [glandular](/source/Gland_(botany)) hairs and the inner surface is bright blue, or sometimes white, pinkish or yellow. As is usual in orchids, one petal is highly modified as the central labellum. The labellum is dark blue near its tip, white near the base, 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide. The edge of the labellum is fringed and there are many stalked [calli](/source/Labellum_(botany)), giving rise to the name blue beard . The [column](/source/Column_(botany)) is 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide.[2][3][4]

## Taxonomy and naming

This species was first formally described in 1810 by [Robert Brown](/source/Robert_Brown_(Scottish_botanist_from_Montrose)) who gave it the name *Caladenia deformis*. The description was published in *[Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae](/source/Prodromus_Florae_Novae_Hollandiae_et_Insulae_Van_Diemen)* from a specimen collected at "Port Dalrymple", now [George Town](/source/George_Town%2C_Tasmania) in [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania).[5][6]

In 2000, [Stephen Hopper](/source/Stephen_Hopper) and [Andrew Brown](/source/Andrew_Phillip_Brown) changed the name to *Cyanicula deformis*[7] and in 2001, [David Jones](/source/David_Lloyd_Jones_(botanist)) and [Mark Clements](/source/Mark_Alwin_Clements) changed it to the present name.[8]

The genus name (*Pheladenia*) is from the [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) words *phelos* meaning "deceitful"[9]: 602 and *aden* meaning "gland",[9]: 369 hence "false gland, alluding to the distinctive labellum call".[10] The [specific epithet](/source/Botanical_name) (*deformis*) is a [Latin](/source/Latin) word meaning "misshapen",[9]: 319 again referring to the unusual labellum.

## Distribution and habitat

Blue fairy orchid grows in a variety of habitats, from the margins of swamps to [granite](/source/Granite) outcrops, heath, woodland and forest. It occurs in all states of Australia except [Queensland](/source/Queensland) and the [Northern Territory](/source/Northern_Territory). In Western Australia it is found from north of [Kalbarri](/source/Kalbarri%2C_Western_Australia) to as far east as [Israelite Bay](/source/Israelite_Bay%2C_Western_Australia) on the south coast. In New South Wales it is uncommon but sometimes forms clumps on the Central West Slopes and South West Plains south from [Molong](/source/Molong).[3][11]

## Conservation status

*Pheladenia deformis* is classified as "not threatened" in Western Australia, by the Western Australian Government [Department of Parks and Wildlife](/source/Department_of_Parks_and_Wildlife_(Western_Australia)).[11]

## See also

- [List of Orchidaceae genera](/source/List_of_Orchidaceae_genera)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rosemary_1-0)** [Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families](http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=151343)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hoffman_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hoffman_2-1) Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). *Orchids of South-West Australia* (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. pp. 203–205. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780646562322](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780646562322).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RBGS_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RBGS_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RBGS_3-2) Bernhardt, Peter. ["*Pheladenia deformis*"](http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Pheladenia~deformis). Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 24 June 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Yarra_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Yarra_4-1) ["*Pheladenia deformis*"](http://fe.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Residents/Trees_Vegetation/Yarra_Ranges_Plant_Directory/Yarra_Ranges_Local_Plant_Directory/Lower_Storey/Orchids/Pheladenia_deformis). Yarra Ranges Shire Council. Retrieved 24 June 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-APNI(1)_5-0)** ["*Caladenia deformis*"](https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/instance/apni/512999). APNI. Retrieved 24 June 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-R.Br._6-0)** Brown, Robert (1810). [*Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/21871#page/192/mode/1up). London. p. 324. Retrieved 24 June 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-APNI(2)_7-0)** ["*Cyanicula deformis*"](https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/instance/apni/574724). APNI. Retrieved 24 June 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-APNI_8-0)** ["*Pheladenia deformis*"](https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/instance/apni/575418). APNI. Retrieved 24 June 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RWB_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RWB_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RWB_9-2) Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). *The Composition of Scientific Words*. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-APNI(3)_10-0)** ["*Pheladenia*"](https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/786817). APNI. Retrieved 8 September 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FloraBase_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FloraBase_11-1) ["*Pheladenia deformis*"](https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/20460). *[FloraBase](/source/FloraBase)*. Western Australian Government [Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions](/source/Department_of_Biodiversity%2C_Conservation_and_Attractions).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Pheladenia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Pheladenia).

- [Esperance wildflowers, Blue Fairies - *Pheladenia deformis*](http://esperancewildflowers.blogspot.com/2008/07/blue-fairies-pheladenia-deformis.html)

- [Atlas of Living Australia, *Pheladenia* D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., Blue Fairy Orchid](http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:696837)

- [Retired Aussies, *Pheladenia deformis*, Bluebeard Caladenia, Blue Fairies](http://www.retiredaussies.com/ColinsHome%20Page/Orchids/Pheladenia/Pheladenia%20deformis2007%20Bluebeard%20Caladenia.htm)

Taxon identifiers Pheladenia Wikidata: Q3183358 Wikispecies: Pheladenia APNI: 175403 BOLD: 433474 CoL: 8W2BK EoL: 108609 FloraBase: 22702 GBIF: 2790509 GRIN: 27797 iNaturalist: 324015 IPNI: 20001824-1 IRMNG: 1268795 NCBI: 432667 Open Tree of Life: 997000 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:20001824-1 Tropicos: 100241135 VicFlora: 35aa55a7-3a90-402f-b737-9356beeebb63 WFO: wfo-4000029170 Pheladenia deformis Wikidata: Q15516588 Wikispecies: Pheladenia deformis APNI: 175404 BOLD: 433475 CoL: 76WTP EoL: 1135516 FloraBase: 20460 GBIF: 2790510 iNaturalist: 323900 IPNI: 20001825-1 NCBI: 177032 Open Tree of Life: 1024708 Plant List: kew-151343 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:20001825-1 Species+: 80816 Tropicos: 100241136 VicFlora: 38bd131c-deb8-48db-84a0-3c18c388beaf WFO: wfo-0000268362

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pheladenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheladenia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheladenia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.