Smooth strand orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smooth strand orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Bulbophyllum
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| Species: |
lageniforme
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| Synonyms | |
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The Bulbophyllum lageniforme, also known as the smooth strand orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows on other plants like trees (this is called epiphytic) or on rocks (this is called lithophytic). This orchid is found only in tropical North Queensland, Australia.
It has flat, pale green, bumpy parts called pseudobulbs that grow in clumps. It also has stiff, dark green leaves. Its flowers are usually cream-coloured or pale green, with a pink "lip" part called a labellum. You can often find it growing on shrubs, trees, and rocks in rainforests high up in the mountains.
About the Smooth Strand Orchid
What it Looks Like
The smooth strand orchid is a plant that grows on trees or rocks. It has flat, pale green, bumpy pseudobulbs that grow together in clumps. These pseudobulbs are about 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) wide.
Its leaves are narrow and oblong, meaning they are longer than they are wide. They are thin but feel stiff, measuring about 50–100 mm (2–4 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) wide.
The orchid can have up to four bell-shaped flowers. They are usually cream-coloured or pale green, but sometimes they can be pink. Each flower is about 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) wide. These flowers grow on a thin, thread-like stem that is about 40–70 mm (1.6–2.8 in) long.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, is egg-shaped and about 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. The side sepals are also about 7–9 mm (0.28–0.35 in) long. The petals are shaped like a spear or an egg, about 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long. The labellum, which is the orchid's special lip, is pink, thick, and fleshy. It's about 6 mm (0.24 in) long. This orchid usually blooms between November and February.
How it Got its Name
The smooth strand orchid was officially described and named in 1904 by a scientist named Frederick Manson Bailey. He published its description in a journal called the Queensland Agricultural Journal. The plant he studied was found near the top of Mount Bellenden Ker.
The second part of its scientific name, lageniforme, comes from two Latin words. Lagena means "a large jar or bottle with handles and a narrow neck." Forma means "shape" or "figure." So, lageniforme means "bottle-shaped," which describes some part of the plant.
Where it Grows
The smooth strand orchid lives on trees and rocks in rainforests. It can also be found in sheltered spots within drier forests. You can find this orchid in Queensland, Australia, in an area stretching from Mount Finnigan all the way to the start of the Tully River.
