Brilliant sun orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brilliant sun orchid |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelymitra
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| Species: |
× mackibbinii
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The Thelymitra × mackibbinii, also known as the brilliant sun orchid, is a special type of orchid. It only grows naturally in Victoria. This orchid has a single narrow, dark green leaf. Its flowers are violet with purplish tips and darker lines, and they have a yellow part on top of the anther.
What It Looks Like
The brilliant sun orchid is a tuberous plant that lives for many years. It grows from a special underground storage part called a tuber. It has one dark green leaf that is about 70–100 mm (3–4 in) long and 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide.
This orchid usually has one or two violet-coloured flowers. These flowers have purplish tips and darker lines, and they are about 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide. The flowers grow on a stem that is about 150–300 mm (6–10 in) tall. The flower parts, called sepals and petals, are about 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide.
Inside the flower, there's a part called the column, which is deep violet. It's about 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The top part of the anther has a small, bright yellow, bumpy lobe. The side lobes are yellow and curve forward, with rough or hairy edges. You can see this orchid flowering from September to October.
How It Got Its Name
The brilliant sun orchid was first officially described in 1881 by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He published his description in a magazine called the Australasian Chemist and Druggist. The plant he studied was found near Maryborough.
The name mackibbinii was chosen to honor "John M'Kibbon, Esq." He was a schoolteacher and also studied orchids, and he was the one who collected the first plant used for the description. This type of plant was once thought to be a natural mix of two different orchids, but now it is known as its own species, Thelymitra mackibbinii.
Where It Lives
The brilliant sun orchid grows in open forests and woodlands. It is found in the goldfields area of Victoria, near towns like Stawell, St Arnaud, and Maryborough. There was one possible sighting in Port Elliot, South Australia, back in 1896, but it's not certain.
Protecting This Orchid
In 2003, there were fewer than thirty brilliant sun orchid plants known to exist. This orchid was probably more common a long time ago, before people started looking for gold and mining in the area.
Today, the main dangers to this orchid are:
- Trampling: When people drive recreational vehicles over the plants.
- Grazing: Animals, both native and those brought in by people, eating the plants.
Because it's so rare, Thelymitra mackibbinii is listed as "vulnerable" by the Victorian Government under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. It's also listed as "endangered" by the Australian Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This means it's a very important plant to protect so it doesn't disappear forever.
