Small ant orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Small ant orchid |
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The Chiloglottis truncata, often called the small ant orchid, is a tiny and special type of orchid. It grows only in Queensland, Australia. This unique plant has two leaves and a single green flower. The flower has a shiny black part that looks like an insect. This part is called the labellum.
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What Does the Small Ant Orchid Look Like?
The small ant orchid is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It is also a deciduous herb. This means it loses its leaves each year. It usually has two leaves. These leaves are about 50–60 mm (2.0–2.4 in) long. They are also about 14–16 mm (0.55–0.63 in) wide.
A single green flower grows on a stem. This stem can be 60–100 mm (2–4 in) tall. The flower itself is about 14–16 mm (0.55–0.63 in) long. It is about 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide.
The top part of the flower is called the sepal. It is about 10–11 mm (0.39–0.43 in) long. The side sepals are a bit shorter. They curve downwards. All three sepals have a tiny tip that looks like a gland.
The petals are about 8 mm (0.3 in) long. They are about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. These petals turn downwards towards the ovary. The labellum is shaped like a trowel. It is about 7.5–8 mm (0.30–0.31 in) long. It is also about 4 mm (0.16 in) wide. The labellum has a square-cut tip. It also has a narrow, shiny black part called a callus. This callus looks like an insect. It stretches all the way to the tip of the labellum.
When Does It Flower?
The small ant orchid usually flowers from July to September.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Chiloglottis truncata was first officially described in 1987. This was done by two botanists, David Jones and Mark Clements. They described it from a plant found in Anduramba. Their description was published in a scientific paper. The second part of its name, truncata, is a Latin word. It means "shorten by cutting off".
Where Does the Small Ant Orchid Live?
The small ant orchid grows in forests and woodlands. You can find it in the area between Kingaroy and Toowoomba in Queensland.