Mount Lewis rope orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Lewis rope orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Bulbophyllum
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| Species: |
lewisense
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| Synonyms | |
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The Mount Lewis rope orchid (scientific name: Bulbophyllum lewisense) is a special kind of orchid. It's called a "rope orchid" because its stems look a bit like ropes. This orchid is an epiphyte, which means it grows on other plants, usually trees, but it doesn't harm them.
This unique orchid has thick, bulb-like parts called pseudobulbs. Each pseudobulb has one dark green leaf. The orchid also produces a single white flower with pointed tips on its sepals. You can find it growing high up in the branches of rainforest trees in tropical North Queensland, especially where the air moves freely.
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What Does the Mount Lewis Rope Orchid Look Like?
The Mount Lewis rope orchid is a herb that grows on trees. Its stems can be about 60–150 mm (2–6 in) long. These stems are covered with light brown, leaf-like parts called bracts.
The orchid has dark green pseudobulbs that are about 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. They press closely against the stem. Each pseudobulb has one thick, narrow leaf. This leaf is about 15–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) wide. It has a wide groove on its top surface.
A single white flower grows on a thin stem about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long. The flower itself is about 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide. The sepals (outer parts of the flower) are thick and pointed, about 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long. The petals (inner parts) are also thick, about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long. The labellum, which is a special lip-like petal, is thick and curved.
When Does It Flower?
The Mount Lewis rope orchid usually blooms between August and October.
How Was This Orchid Named?
The Bulbophyllum lewisense orchid was first officially described in 1989. Two botanists, Bruce Gray and David Jones, gave it its scientific name. They published their description in a scientific journal called Austrobaileya.
The name lewisense comes from the Mount Lewis National Park. This is where Bruce Gray found the first plant specimen used to describe the species.
Where Does the Mount Lewis Rope Orchid Live?
The Mount Lewis rope orchid grows on the higher branches of trees in rainforests. It prefers places where there's a lot of fresh air moving around.
You can find this orchid in specific areas of Queensland, Australia. It lives on the Mount Lewis, Mount Carbine, and Mount Windsor Tablelands. It grows at high altitudes, usually between 1,000 and 1,250 m (3,000 and 4,000 ft) above sea level.
