Yellow snake orchid facts for kids

The yellow snake orchid, also known as Bulbophyllum johnsonii, is a special kind of orchid. It can grow on other plants like trees and shrubs (this is called being an epiphyte). It can also grow on rocks (this is called being a lithophyte). This orchid has a thin stem that creeps along, called a rhizome. It also has flat, round parts called pseudobulbs. Each pseudobulb has one strong, dark green leaf. From these, a single bright yellow or orange flower grows on a thin stalk. You can find this orchid growing on trees, shrubs, and rocks near rainforests in tropical North Queensland.

What the Yellow Snake Orchid Looks Like

The yellow snake orchid is a plant that grows on other plants or rocks. It has thin, creeping stems called rhizomes. These stems press flat against the surface where the orchid grows.

The orchid also has flattened, dark green, reddish, or purple parts called pseudobulbs. These pseudobulbs are about 14–18 mm (0.55–0.71 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) wide. Each pseudobulb has one tough, dark green leaf. This leaf is shaped like an egg and is about 10–40 mm (0.4–2 in) long and 7–15 mm (0.28–0.59 in) wide.

Its Unique Flowers

A single flower grows on a thin, thread-like stem about 20–30 mm (0.79–1.2 in) long. The flower itself is usually red, brown, green, or yellowish. It is about 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) long and 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) wide.

Orchid flowers have special parts. The top part, called the dorsal sepal, is about 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide. It forms a small hood over the center of the flower, called the column. The two side parts, called lateral sepals, are about 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.12 in) wide. They spread out wide from each other.

The petals of the flower are small, about 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. They often have a dark spot at their tip. The most interesting part is the labellum, which is like a special lip. It is about 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide. The labellum has a red base and a yellow tip. This orchid can flower at different times throughout the year.

How it Got its Name

The yellow snake orchid, Bulbophyllum johnsonii, was officially named in 1950. A scientist named Trevor Edgar Hunt described it in a scientific paper. He used a plant sample collected by "A. E. Johnson" from a place called Hambledon, Queensland.

The second part of its scientific name, johnsonii, was chosen to honor A. E. Johnson. He was the person who collected the very first plant sample of this orchid that scientists used to describe it. This first sample is called the type specimen.

Where the Yellow Snake Orchid Lives

The yellow snake orchid usually grows on trees, shrubs, and rocks. You can find it in rainforests and open forests. It prefers to grow in higher places, like mountains. Its home stretches between Cedar Bay National Park and the Paluma Range National Park.