White gnome orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White gnome orchid |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Picture of Adenochilus nortonii | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Adenochilus
|
| Species: |
nortonii
|
| Synonyms | |
The Adenochilus nortonii, often called the white gnome orchid, is a special plant. It belongs to the orchid family. You can only find it in a few small areas in New South Wales, Australia.
This orchid has a long, thin root system that grows underground. It has just one leaf. It also grows a single white flower. This flower has tiny reddish hairs on the outside. Its special lip-shaped petal, called a labellum, has red stripes. It also has a yellow band in the middle.
Contents
What Does the White Gnome Orchid Look Like?
The white gnome orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It lives for many years. But its leaves and stems die back each year. It has a long, thin root that grows sideways underground.
Each plant has one leaf. This leaf is shaped like an egg or a spear. It is about 15 to 35 millimeters (0.6 to 1.4 inches) long. It is also about 10 to 16 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide. The bottom of the leaf has reddish spots.
A single white flower grows on a tall stem. This stem is about 60 to 120 millimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) tall. The flower itself is about 15 to 20 millimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long. It is also 20 to 30 millimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) wide.
The outside of the flower's sepals and petals has reddish, sticky hairs. The top sepal is wide and oval-shaped. It is 12 to 16 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. It forms a hood over the flower's lip and central part. The side sepals are 13 to 16 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. They spread out wide. The petals are 10 to 14 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long. They stand up a little.
The labellum (the flower's lip) is very curved. It is about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. It has three parts with red stripes. The middle part is narrow. It has a thick band of yellow bumps called calli. The side parts are wider. This orchid blooms in November and December.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The white gnome orchid was first officially described in 1876. A scientist named Robert FitzGerald wrote about it. He found a sample of the plant near Mount Victoria. His description was published in his book, Australian Orchids.
The second part of its scientific name, nortonii, honors James Norton. He was an amateur botanist. This means he studied plants as a hobby. James Norton was also a friend of Robert FitzGerald.
Where Does the White Gnome Orchid Live?
The white gnome orchid likes to grow in rocky cracks. It also grows in sphagnum moss. You can find it near small streams in beech forests. It usually grows in places higher than 900 meters (2,950 feet) above sea level.
This special orchid is found in a few areas in New South Wales. These include the Blue Mountains, Barrington Tops, and Point Lookout regions.
See also
In Spanish: Adenochilus nortonii para niños
