Black-hooded sun orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-hooded sun orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelymitra
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| Species: |
atronitida
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The black-hooded sun orchid (Thelymitra atronitida) is a special type of orchid that grows only in certain parts of south-eastern Australia. It has a single, tough leaf and pretty, dark blue flowers. These flowers are quite unique because they can pollinate themselves, and they only open up on very hot days!
What Does It Look Like?
The black-hooded sun orchid is a plant that grows from a tuber (like a small underground storage part, similar to a potato). It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It has one upright, strong, dark green leaf that can be from 150 to 350 mm (about 6 to 14 inches) long and 5 to 12 mm (about 0.2 to 0.5 inches) wide. This leaf is thick and has a groove in it, with a purplish base.
The plant usually grows between two and eight moderately dark blue flowers. These flowers are about 20 to 26 mm (around 0.8 to 1 inch) wide. They grow on a flowering stem that can be 300 to 500 mm (about 12 to 20 inches) tall.
The parts of the flower that look like petals are called sepals and petals. They are about 10 to 13 mm (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long. The central part of the flower, called the column, is pale blue. It's about 3 to 4 mm long.
A special part of the flower, the top of the anther (which holds the pollen), is shiny black. It has a yellow, tube-like tip that curves gently and has a small notch at the end. The side parts of the column curve upwards and have white hairs that look a bit like a toothbrush.
These orchids usually flower in October and November. Remember, their flowers only open up on hot days!
How It Got Its Name
The black-hooded sun orchid was first officially described in the year 2000 by a botanist named Jeff Jeanes. He wrote about it in a science journal called Muelleria. The plant he described was found near a place called Genoa in Australia.
The scientific name atronitida comes from two Latin words. Ater means "black," and nitida means "bright," "shining," or "elegant." These words were chosen because of the shiny black color of the anther lobe, which is a key feature of this orchid.
Where It Lives
The black-hooded sun orchid is found in specific areas of eastern New South Wales, the far north-eastern part of Victoria, and eastern Tasmania. It likes to grow in open forests that have a lot of heath plants, and also in plains where grasstrees grow.
Protecting This Orchid
This special orchid is quite rare and needs protection. In New South Wales, it is only known from two places. Because of this, it is listed as "critically endangered" under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. This means it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
In Tasmania, the black-hooded sun orchid is known from only five locations. There, it is listed as "endangered" under the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. This also means it's facing a high risk of becoming extinct. Efforts are being made to protect its habitats and help this unique orchid survive.
