Brushbox feather orchid facts for kids

The Dendrobium radiatum, often called the brushbox feather orchid, is a special kind of orchid. It grows on other plants, like trees, but it doesn't harm them. This orchid is found only in eastern Australia. It has thick, tube-shaped stems and up to three dark green leaves. Its white flowers have pretty purple marks on a part called the labellum.

Discover the Brushbox Feather Orchid

The brushbox feather orchid is a plant that grows on other plants. It has stems that look like tubes. These stems are dark reddish-green. They are about 5 to 20 centimeters (2-8 inches) long. They often press close to the tree they grow on.

Leaves and Flowers

Each stem has up to three tough, dark green leaves. These leaves grow from the top of the stem. They are usually 2 to 5 centimeters (0.8-2 inches) long. They are also about 1 to 2.5 centimeters (0.4-1 inch) wide.

This orchid produces between five and eleven white flowers. Each flower is about 2.7 to 4.2 centimeters (1.1-1.7 inches) long. They are also 2.5 to 4 centimeters (1-1.6 inches) wide. The flowers grow on a stem that is 3 to 10 centimeters (1.2-3.9 inches) long.

The outer parts of the flower, called sepals and petals, are 1.7 to 3.3 centimeters (0.7-1.3 inches) long. The sepals are about 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. The petals are thinner, about 1 to 2 millimeters (0.04-0.08 inches) wide. The labellum, which is a special part of the orchid flower, is white or cream-colored. It has purple markings. It is about 6 to 7 millimeters (0.2-0.3 inches) long and wide. It has three parts, called lobes. These beautiful orchids bloom between August and October.

Naming the Brushbox Feather Orchid

The brushbox feather orchid was first officially described in 2006. Two botanists, David Jones and Mark Clements, studied a plant found near Nerang. They first named it Tropilis radiata. This description was published in a science journal called Australian Orchid Research.

How the Name Changed

Later, in 2014, another botanist named Julian Shaw changed its name. He renamed it Dendrobium radiatum. The second part of its scientific name, radiatum, comes from a Latin word. It means "rayed," "beaming," or "shining." This name refers to how the orchid's stems are arranged. They spread out like the spokes of a wheel.

Where the Orchid Lives

The Dendrobium radiatum orchid has a very specific home. It grows only on the rough bark near the bottom of a tree called the brush box. The scientific name for this tree is Lophostemon confertus.

You can find this orchid in a specific area of eastern Australia. It grows from Eungella in Queensland all the way down to Wauchope in New South Wales.