Bog bird orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bog bird orchid |
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The bog bird orchid, also known as Chiloglottis turfosa, is a special type of orchid. It is only found in southern New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia. This orchid has two dark green leaves. It grows a single flower that can be greenish or reddish-brown. The flower has a shiny, dark reddish part called a labellum with unique, column-like bumps.
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What Does the Bog Bird Orchid Look Like?
The bog bird orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It also loses its leaves each year, which is called being deciduous. This plant has two leaves that are shaped like an egg or are almost round. These leaves are about 2.5 to 6 centimeters (1 to 2.4 inches) long and 1.6 to 3 centimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) wide. They grow on a small stem called a petiole, which is about 0.4 to 1.2 centimeters (0.16 to 0.47 inches) long.
A single flower grows on a stem that is about 2 to 3 centimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) tall. The flower itself is about 1.8 to 2.3 centimeters (0.7 to 0.9 inches) long and wide.
Flower Parts
- Sepals: The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, looks like a spatula or an egg, narrower at the bottom. It is about 1.8 to 2.2 centimeters (0.7 to 0.9 inches) long. The two side sepals are thin and pointy, about 1.6 to 1.8 centimeters (0.6 to 0.7 inches) long. They stand up at first but then bend downwards. All three sepals have a small, sticky tip about 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) long.
- Petals: The petals are egg-shaped or spear-shaped, about 1.2 to 1.5 centimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. They spread out and curve upwards near the labellum.
- Labellum: The labellum is a wide, heart-shaped part of the flower. It is about 1.2 to 1.3 centimeters (0.47 to 0.51 inches) long and 1.1 to 1.2 centimeters (0.43 to 0.47 inches) wide. It has up to 24 shiny, dark reddish bumps called calli. These calli are like small columns, up to 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) long, with the longest ones closer to the base of the labellum.
- Column: The column is greenish-brown with darker spots. It is about 1.2 to 1.3 centimeters (0.47 to 0.51 inches) long and 0.5 centimeters (0.2 inches) wide.
These orchids usually bloom in November and December.
Where Does the Bog Bird Orchid Live?
The bog bird orchid likes to grow in wet, peaty soil. You can find it among grasses and under small bushes. It lives in the Snowy Mountains area, near places like Kiandra and Adaminaby, and also in the Australian Capital Territory.
How Was It Named?
The bog bird orchid was officially described in 1991 by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the plant near the Tantangara Dam. The scientific name turfosa comes from a Latin word that means "a peat bog." This name was chosen because the orchid often grows in peaty, boggy areas.
