Early mosquito orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Early mosquito orchid |
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| Acianthus apprimus growing near Ebor | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Acianthus
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| Species: |
apprimus
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The Acianthus apprimus, also known as the early mosquito orchid, is a special flowering plant that belongs to the orchid family. It only grows in New South Wales, Australia. This plant is a type of ground-growing herb. It has one heart-shaped leaf and usually two to nine see-through pink flowers with red marks. You can find these orchids in different areas across the state.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The early mosquito orchid is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows from the ground each year. It has one dark green leaf shaped like a heart. The leaf is smooth and has a reddish-purple color underneath. This leaf is about 18 to 40 millimeters (0.7 to 1.6 inches) long. It is also about 14 to 35 millimeters (0.5 to 1.4 inches) wide. The leaf sits on a stalk that is about 4 to 9 centimeters (1.6 to 3.5 inches) tall.
The Flowers
This orchid usually has two to nine flowers. They are spaced out along a stem that can be 5 to 20 centimeters (2 to 8 inches) tall. Each flower is about 9 to 12 millimeters (0.35 to 0.47 inches) long. They are about 7 millimeters (0.28 inches) wide.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, is egg-shaped. It is 9 to 14 millimeters (0.35 to 0.55 inches) long. This sepal forms a hood over the center part of the flower. It is a see-through pink color with reddish lines. The side sepals are also pinkish. They have a red stripe down the middle. These sepals cross over each other below the labellum.
The petals are similar in color and about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long. They stick out forwards. The labellum is a special lip-like part of the orchid flower. For this orchid, it is dark purplish-red, almost black. It has a thick, fleshy area in the middle. This area is covered with many small bumps. The labellum is about 5.5 to 7 millimeters (0.22 to 0.28 inches) long. It is 2.5 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.16 inches) wide. Its edges are usually curled under.
When Does It Flower?
This orchid is one of the first Acianthus species to flower. It usually blooms between February and April. It looks a bit like another orchid called Acianthus fornicatus. However, the early mosquito orchid flowers before the leaves of A. fornicatus even appear. The seed pod that grows after flowering is about 6 to 8 millimeters (0.24 to 0.31 inches) long. It is about 2 to 2.5 millimeters (0.08 to 0.1 inches) wide.
You can tell this species apart from Acianthus fornicatus by its labellum. The labellum of Acianthus apprimus is folded. This means you can mostly only see the bumpy middle part. Also, it flowers much earlier in the year. A. fornicatus flowers from May to August.
How It Was Named
The Acianthus apprimus was first officially described in 1991. A botanist named David Jones described it. He published his description in a book called Australian Orchid Research. He had found the plants near Mount Wilson the year before.
The second part of its scientific name, apprimus, is a Latin word. It means "the very first." This name was chosen because this orchid flowers very early in the season.
Some scientists, like Paul Kores, believe that Acianthus apprimus and a few other species are actually the same as Acianthus fornicatus. This idea has been accepted by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Where It Lives
This orchid grows in tall mountain forests. It likes to grow among grass, shrubs, and ferns. You can find it at high places, between 600 and 900 meters (about 2,000 to 3,000 feet) above sea level. It lives in areas like the Blue Mountains, New England National Park, near Walcha, and on Mount Duval.
Protecting This Orchid
When this orchid was first described, it was listed as a species that needed some protection. However, after a review in 2007, it is no longer listed under a main Australian environmental law. This means it is not currently considered to be at high risk.
