Windswept helmet-orchid facts for kids
The windswept helmet-orchid (Corybas dienemus) is a special type of orchid found only on Macquarie Island, which is a small island south of Australia. It was the first orchid ever discovered on this island. This small plant has green flowers with purplish-red marks. It was first found in 1978.
Quick facts for kids Windswept helmet-orchid |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Corybas
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| Species: |
dienemus
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Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The windswept helmet-orchid is a small plant, usually about 30 to 50 millimeters (1 to 2 inches) tall. It grows from a tuber (like a small potato) in the ground. These orchids often grow in groups, forming what are called "clonal colonies." This means new plants can grow from the same original plant.
Its leaves are flat and a bit thick. They are dark green on top and silvery-green underneath. The flower stands upright and sits right at the bottom of the leaf. It is mostly green with purplish-red patterns. Each flower is about 25 to 30 millimeters long and 20 to 25 millimeters wide.
You can tell this orchid apart from the only other orchid on Macquarie Island, the grooved helmet-orchid (Corybas sulcatus). The windswept helmet-orchid has mostly green flowers, while the grooved helmet-orchid has mostly dark red ones.
How It Got Its Name
This orchid was first found on Macquarie Island in 1978. At first, people thought it was a type of orchid common in New Zealand. But in 1993, a scientist named David Jones realized it was a new species. He named it Corybas dienemus.
The second part of its name, "dienemum," comes from an Ancient Greek word. It means "windswept," which is a perfect name for a plant living on a windy island!
Where It Lives
The windswept helmet-orchid grows in about ten different spots on the northern part of Macquarie Island. It likes to live on the lower parts of the coast, usually less than 30 meters (about 100 feet) above the sea.
These areas are often very wet. The plants grow among mosses that float on very wet peat soil. The water level is usually very close to the surface of the ground. Scientists believe there are about 7,500 of these plants in total.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The windswept helmet-orchid flowers between November and January. It makes seeds every year. But it also has another way to make new plants: it can grow new plants from its roots. This is called "vegetative reproduction."
The leaves of the orchid die in the autumn, and new ones grow in the spring. We don't know exactly how long these orchids live or when they are old enough to make seeds. However, some of the groups of plants (clonal colonies) have probably been around for many decades.
Scientists are not sure how the orchid is pollinated. One idea is that a type of small fly called the Black Fungus Gnat might help. These gnats are common in the areas where the orchid grows.
Protecting This Orchid
Macquarie Island is a very important place for nature. It is a nature reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Even with all this protection, the windswept helmet-orchid is in danger.
It is listed as Critically Endangered in Australia. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. The main reasons it's in danger are:
- It only grows in a few places.
- There aren't many plants left.
- Its home was being damaged by rabbits. Rabbits would eat the plants, dig up the ground, and make burrows.
- Seals can also damage the habitat by making muddy wallows.
- Climate change might also be a threat in the future.
Good news! In 2010, a big project started to get rid of all the rabbits on Macquarie Island. By 2014, all the rabbits were gone! This is a huge step in helping the windswept helmet-orchid and other plants on the island recover.
