Green bird orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green bird orchid |
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The green bird orchid (scientific name: Chiloglottis cornuta) is a special type of orchid. You can find it growing in south-eastern Australia and across New Zealand, including many of its smaller islands. This unique plant gets its common name because its flower can sometimes look a bit like a bird's head! It has two wide leaves and usually just one flower, which can be green or a bit pink.
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What Does the Green Bird Orchid Look Like?
The green bird orchid is a herb that grows in the ground. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times of the year.
It has two oval-shaped leaves. These leaves are about 6 to 10 centimeters (2.4 to 3.9 inches) long and 2 to 3 centimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) wide. They grow on a short stem called a petiole, which is about 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long.
A single flower grows on a stem that stands about 4 to 10 centimeters (1.6 to 3.9 inches) tall. The flower itself is usually green or reddish. It measures about 13 to 16 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long and 25 to 30 millimeters (1.0 to 1.2 inches) wide.
Flower Parts Explained
- The top part of the flower is called the dorsal sepal. It's shaped like a spear or an egg, about 13 to 16 millimeters long and 5 to 7 millimeters wide.
- The two side sepals are about 10 to 12 millimeters long and 3 millimeters wide. They curve forward. All the sepals have a tiny, sticky tip about 1 millimeter long.
- The petals are thin and spear-shaped. They are about 10 to 12 millimeters long and 3.5 millimeters wide. These petals spread out wide from each other.
- The most interesting part is the labellum. This is the orchid's "lip." It's shaped like a heart, about 9 to 12 millimeters long and 7 to 8 millimeters wide. On the labellum, you'll see six to eight rounded bumps called calli. These can be dark red, green, reddish, or blackish.
- The column is a central part of the flower where the male and female parts are joined. It stands upright and has wide "wings" on its upper half.
This orchid usually blooms from November to February.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The scientific name for the green bird orchid, Chiloglottis cornuta, was first officially written down in 1844. This was done by a scientist named Joseph Dalton Hooker. He found a specimen, which is a sample of the plant, near a place called "Campbell's Island." He then published its description in a book called Flora Antarctica.
The second part of its scientific name, cornuta, comes from a Latin word. It means "bearing horns" or "horned." This likely refers to the shape of some of its flower parts.
Where Does the Green Bird Orchid Live?
The green bird orchid likes to grow in damp areas within sheltered forests. In Australia, you can find it in the far south-eastern parts of New South Wales, eastern Victoria, far south-eastern South Australia, and throughout Tasmania.
In New Zealand, it grows on both the North Island and the South Island. It's also found on several smaller islands, including Stewart, Chatham, the Antipodes, Campbell, and the Auckland Islands.
