Blotched butterfly orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blotched butterfly orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sarcochilus
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| Species: |
weinthalii
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| Synonyms | |
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The blotched butterfly orchid, also known as Sarcochilus weinthalii, is a unique and small epiphytic orchid. This means it grows on other plants, like trees, but it doesn't take nutrients from them. It's a plant found only in eastern Australia. This orchid has a few thin, leathery leaves that are yellowish-green. Its beautiful flowers are cream-colored and have large purple or reddish blotches, which makes them look a bit like a butterfly!
What Does It Look Like?
The blotched butterfly orchid is a small plant that lives on trees. Its stems are usually about 4 to 8 centimeters (1.5 to 3 inches) long. It has between three and seven thin, leathery leaves. These leaves are yellowish-green and measure about 5 to 9 centimeters (2 to 3.5 inches) long and 1 to 1.2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) wide.
The orchid produces between three and twelve cream-colored flowers. Each flower has big purple or reddish blotches. The flowers are about 1.2 to 1.6 centimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long and 1.2 to 1.5 centimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) wide. They grow on a stem that hangs down, about 5 to 7 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) long.
The parts of the flower, called sepals and petals, are shaped like an ellipse or a spatula. Sometimes, the flowers look like a small cup. The top sepal is about 7 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. The side sepals are a little bit longer and wider. The petals are about 6 to 9 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
The labellum (which is a special lip-like petal on an orchid) is cream-colored with purple markings. It's about 1.5 millimeters (0.06 inches) long and has three parts called lobes. The two side lobes stand up and curve inwards. The middle lobe has a rounded, fleshy spur that is about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long. You can usually see these orchids flowering between August and October.
How It Got Its Name
The blotched butterfly orchid was first officially described in 1904. This was done by a botanist named Frederick Manson Bailey. He published the description in a journal called the Queensland Agricultural Journal. The plant he described was found near Toowoomba by someone named "F. Weinthal."
The second part of the orchid's scientific name, weinthalii, was chosen to honor F. Weinthal. He was the person who collected the first sample of this orchid, which is called the type specimen.
Where It Lives
The blotched butterfly orchid grows in forests and scrubland. It likes hilly areas. You can find it between the Bunya Mountains in Queensland and the Richmond River in New South Wales.
Protecting This Orchid
This special orchid is considered "vulnerable." This means it's at risk of becoming endangered if we don't protect it. Both the Australian Government, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and the New South Wales Government, under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, list it as vulnerable.
The main dangers to the blotched butterfly orchid are:
- Collecting: Sometimes people try to take these orchids from their natural homes. This can harm the wild populations.
- Fires: The wrong kind of fires can also damage their habitats.
Protecting these beautiful orchids helps keep our natural environment healthy.
