Mayfly orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayfly orchid |
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| Acianthus caudatus growing in the Budy Bim National Park | |
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Acianthus
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| Species: |
caudatus
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The mayfly orchid, also known by its scientific name Acianthus caudatus, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the orchid family, called Orchidaceae. This special orchid grows only in eastern Australia, which means it is endemic there.
It is a terrestrial herb, meaning it grows in the ground. The plant has one leaf that looks like an egg or a heart. It can have up to nine dark purple flowers. These flowers have thin parts that spread out, called sepals and petals. Sometimes, they even have a musty smell!
What it Looks Like
The mayfly orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so its leaves might fall off at certain times.
Each plant has a single leaf. This leaf is thin and shaped like an egg or a heart. The top of the leaf is dark green, and the bottom is a reddish-purple color. The leaf is usually about 8 to 30 millimeters (0.3 to 1.2 inches) long. It is also about 6 to 20 millimeters (0.2 to 0.8 inches) wide. The edges of the leaf can be a bit wavy or have tiny teeth.
The orchid can have up to nine dark purple flowers. These flowers grow on a tall stem called a raceme. This stem can be 50 to 250 millimeters (2 to 9.8 inches) high. Each flower is about 30 to 40 millimeters (1.2 to 1.6 inches) long.
Let's look closer at the flower parts:
- The dorsal sepal is the top part of the flower. It stands up straight and is wider near its base. It is about 15 to 25 millimeters (0.6 to 1 inch) long and gets thinner towards the end, like a fine point.
- The lateral sepals are similar in shape but a bit shorter. They are also 15 to 25 millimeters long and spread out from each other.
- The petals are narrow and shaped like a spear. They are about 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long. They are curved and also spread out.
- The labellum is a special lip-like part of the orchid flower. It is shaped like an egg or a wedge. It is about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. The tip of the labellum usually points downwards.
Mayfly orchids usually bloom, or flower, from August to October.
How it Got its Name
The scientific name for the mayfly orchid, Acianthus caudatus, was first officially described in 1810. This was done by a botanist named Robert Brown. He published his description in a book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.
The second part of the scientific name, caudatus, comes from a Latin word. The Latin word cauda means "tail." This might refer to the long, thin parts of the flower that look like tails.
Where it Lives
The mayfly orchid grows in open forests. You can find it among low shrubs. It grows in different parts of eastern Australia.
It is found south of the Manning River in New South Wales. It also grows through Victoria and all the way to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. You can also find this orchid in Tasmania.
See also
In Spanish: Acianthus caudatus para niños
