Copper beard orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Copper beard orchid |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Calochilus campestris | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calochilus
|
| Species: |
campestris
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The copper beard orchid (scientific name: Calochilus campestris) is a special type of orchid that grows only in south-eastern Australia. It gets its name from the unique "beard" of purple hairs on its flower. This orchid has a single thick, grooved leaf and can grow up to fifteen pale green and red flowers.
What Does It Look Like?
The copper beard orchid is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous plant, which means it sheds its leaves at certain times, usually in drier seasons. This orchid grows from an underground tuber (a swollen part of the stem, like a potato). It has one thick, grooved leaf that can be about 150 to 350 mm (6 to 14 in) long and 10 to 15 mm (0.4 to 0.6 in) wide.
The plant produces a flowering stem that can be 300 to 600 mm (12 to 24 in) tall. On this stem, you might see between three and fifteen pale green flowers with reddish lines. Each flower is about 18 to 22 mm (0.7 to 0.9 in) long and 12 to 16 mm (0.5 to 0.6 in) wide.
Let's look closer at the flower parts:
- The dorsal sepal (the top part of the flower) stands upright and is egg-shaped.
- The lateral sepals (the side parts) are similar in length but a bit narrower.
- The petals are shaped like a spear or an egg and spread out wide.
- The labellum (the orchid's "lip") is egg-shaped and curves when you look at it from the side. The base of this lip is thick and has two smooth, shiny blue plates. The middle part is covered in bristly purple hairs, which is where the "beard" name comes from! The very tip has a short, sticky "tail."
- The column (the central part of the orchid flower) has two fake "eyes" but no ridge connecting them.
These orchids usually flower from October to November. Each flower only lasts for a short time, typically between two and four days.
How It Got Its Name
The copper beard orchid was first officially described in 1810 by a botanist named Robert Brown. He published his description in a book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.
The scientific name, Calochilus campestris, has a special meaning. The word campestris comes from Latin and means "of or pertaining to fields."
Where It Lives
The copper beard orchid can be found in many different types of places, from open heathlands to forests in mountainous areas.
You can find this orchid:
- In Queensland, south from the Blackdown Tableland National Park.
- Along the coast of New South Wales and inland as far as Temora.
- It is very common in Victoria.
- In Tasmania, it has only been recorded once, on Clarke Island in 1979.
- In South Australia, it was recorded only once in 1983, in the Mount Billy Conservation Park on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Protecting This Orchid
The copper beard orchid is considered "rare" in South Australia. In Tasmania, it is listed as "endangered," which means it is at a very high risk of disappearing. These classifications are made under the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.
The main things that threaten this orchid, especially on Clarke Island, include:
- Land clearing: When land is cleared for farming or building, the orchid's habitat is destroyed.
- Inappropriate fire regimes: Fires that happen too often, not often enough, or at the wrong time can harm the plants.
- Inappropriate grazing regimes: Too many animals eating the plants can prevent them from growing and reproducing.
By understanding these threats, people can work to protect this unique and beautiful orchid.
See also
In Spanish: Calochilus campestris para niños
