Lofty beard orchid facts for kids

The lofty beard orchid (scientific name: Calochilus praealtus) is a special type of orchid. It only grows in the Northern Tablelands area of New South Wales, Australia. This orchid has one pale green leaf. It also grows up to six pale green flowers. These flowers have light red stripes. A cool part of the flower is its "lip," called a labellum. This labellum has a dark purple beard! You can only find this orchid in two mountain areas.

What Does the Lofty Beard Orchid Look Like?

The lofty beard orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant has a special underground tuber, like a small potato. It stores food there.

Each orchid grows one pale green leaf. This leaf can be from 180 mm (7.1 in) to 400 mm (16 in) long. It is about 4 mm (0.16 in) to 8 mm (0.31 in) wide. The leaf is fully grown when the plant starts to flower. It often has a powdery look and a purplish-red base.

The Flowers of the Orchid

The lofty beard orchid grows a tall stem. This stem can be 280 mm (11 in) to 500 mm (20 in) high. It holds between two and six pale green flowers. These flowers have faint red stripes. Each flower only lasts for about two to four days.

The top part of the flower is called the dorsal sepal. It is shaped like a spear or an egg. It measures about 12 mm (0.47 in) to 14 mm (0.55 in) long. The side sepals are similar in length. But they are only about half as wide. They spread out from each other.

The petals are about 7 mm (0.28 in) to 8 mm (0.31 in) long. They are around 5 mm (0.20 in) wide. They have an uneven egg shape. Each petal has a small tip that turns upwards.

The Labellum, or "Beard"

The most interesting part is the labellum. This is the orchid's "lip." It is flat and measures 22 mm (0.87 in) to 24 mm (0.94 in) long. It is about 7 mm (0.28 in) wide. Near its base, there are short, thick purple bumps called calli.

The middle of the labellum is covered with dark purple hairs. These hairs can be up to 6 mm (0.24 in) long. This is why it's called a "beard" orchid! The very tip of the labellum is special. It is a glandular tip. This means it might produce a sticky substance. It is 15 mm (0.59 in) to 17 mm (0.67 in) long and about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide.

The central part of the flower, called the column, has two yellowish "eyes." These eyes are connected by a faint line. The lofty beard orchid flowers from December to February. Remember, each flower only lasts a few days!

How the Lofty Beard Orchid Got Its Name

The lofty beard orchid was first officially described in 2006. A botanist named David Jones gave it its scientific name, Calochilus praealtus. He wrote about it in a science book called Australian Orchid Research.

The second part of its name, praealtus, comes from a Latin word. It means "very high." This name was chosen because this orchid grows in high mountain areas.

Where Does the Lofty Beard Orchid Live?

The lofty beard orchid likes to grow among grasses. It lives in woodlands where snow gum trees grow. These trees are a type of eucalyptus.

This special orchid is only found in two places. These are Barrington Tops and the Mount Kaputar National Park. Both of these areas are in New South Wales, Australia.