Arnhem Land swamp orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arnhem Land swamp orchid |
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| Pachystoma amboinensis on Rarotonga | |
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| Genus: |
Phaius
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| Species: |
amboinensis
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The Arnhem Land swamp orchid (scientific name: Phaius amboinensis) is a beautiful plant. It belongs to the orchid family. You can find it growing naturally in places like Malesia, New Guinea, Australia, and islands in the Pacific Ocean.
This orchid is an evergreen plant, meaning it stays green all year. It grows on the ground (it's a terrestrial herb). It has up to eight leaves that look like they've been folded or pleated. It also produces up to twenty large white flowers. Each flower has a special yellow lip called a labellum. These orchids love to grow in wet, shady forests.
What Does the Arnhem Land Swamp Orchid Look Like?
The Arnhem Land swamp orchid is an evergreen plant that grows on the ground. It often forms large groups or clumps. It has three or four thick, fleshy stems. These stems are usually between 400 and 800 millimeters (about 16 to 31 inches) long. They are also about 15 to 20 millimeters (about 0.6 to 0.8 inches) wide.
Each stem has between three and eight dark green leaves. These leaves are pleated, meaning they have folds like a fan. They are usually 300 to 400 millimeters (about 12 to 16 inches) long. The leaves are also 7 to 14 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.6 inches) wide.
The orchid produces a tall flowering stem. This stem can be 300 to 900 millimeters (about 12 to 35 inches) tall. On this stem, you'll find between five and twenty white flowers. Each flower is quite large, measuring 40 to 70 millimeters (about 1.6 to 2.8 inches) long. They are also 42 to 75 millimeters (about 1.7 to 3 inches) wide.
The flowers have special parts called sepals and petals. The top sepal stands mostly upright. The side sepals spread out. The petals are similar in length to the sepals but are narrower. The most interesting part is the labellum, which is a special lip. It is yellow and has three lobes (sections) with wavy edges. In the center of the labellum, there's a complex structure called a callus.
In Australia, these orchids usually bloom from August to November. In Asia, they can flower for a longer time.
How Was It Named?
The scientific name for this orchid, Phaius amboinensis, was first officially described in 1856. This was done by a botanist named Carl Ludwig Blume. He wrote about it in his book called Museum Botanicum Lugduno-Batavum.
The second part of its name, amboinensis, tells us something about where it was found. It refers to Ambon Island. This is where the very first plant used to describe the species (called the type specimen) was collected.
Where Does It Grow?
The Arnhem Land swamp orchid likes to grow in deep shade. It prefers wet forests. You can find this orchid in many different places. These include Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, and the Northern Territory in Australia. It also grows in New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Samoa.
