Buttercup orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buttercup orchid |
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| Illustration by Lewis Roberts | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Dendrobium
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| Species: |
agrostophyllum
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The buttercup orchid (scientific name: Dendrobium agrostophyllum) is a beautiful plant. It's a type of orchid that grows on other plants or rocks. This orchid has a special underground stem called a rhizome. From this rhizome grow thick stems called pseudobulbs.
Each pseudobulb can have up to twenty leaves that look like grass. Some of these leaves have flowering stems. These stems produce up to ten waxy, sweet-smelling, bright yellow flowers. You can find the buttercup orchid growing in wet forests along the coast of northern Queensland, Australia.
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What Does the Buttercup Orchid Look Like?
The buttercup orchid is a herbaceous plant, meaning it has soft, green stems. It can grow as an epiphyte (on other plants) or a lithophyte (on rocks). It has creeping rhizomes with pseudobulbs spaced out along them.
Pseudobulbs and Leaves
Each pseudobulb is like a swollen stem. They can be from 10 to 60 centimeters (4 to 24 inches) long. They are also about 0.5 to 1 centimeter (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. Each pseudobulb has between eight and twenty grass-like leaves. These leaves are usually yellowish and have a groove down the middle. They are about 4 to 10 centimeters (1.6 to 4 inches) long. They are also about 0.8 to 1.2 centimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) wide.
Flowers and Petals
The buttercup orchid's flowers grow on stems called racemes. These racemes are 2 to 5 centimeters (0.8 to 2 inches) long. Each raceme has two to ten bright yellow flowers. The flowers are waxy and smell nice. They are slightly cupped in shape. Each flower is about 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long. They are also 1.5 to 2 centimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) wide.
The flower has parts called sepals and petals. The sepals are 0.7 to 0.9 centimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. They are 0.5 to 0.7 centimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. The petals are a bit smaller, about 0.6 to 0.8 centimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. They are about 0.5 centimeters (0.2 inches) wide.
The Labellum
The labellum is a special part of the orchid flower. It's like a lip. For the buttercup orchid, the labellum is about 0.9 centimeters (0.4 inches) long. It is also about 0.6 centimeters (0.2 inches) wide. It has three parts, called lobes. The two side lobes curve upwards. The middle lobe has two small ridges down its center. It also has two parts that stick out forward. These orchids usually bloom from July to November.
Where Does the Buttercup Orchid Live?
The buttercup orchid grows in wet forests. This includes rainforests. You can find it on rocks and trees. Its home stretches between the Mount Windsor National Park and the Paluma Range National Park. Both of these parks are in Queensland, Australia.
