Slipper orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slipper orchid |
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| Cryptostylis ovata growing at Emu Point near Albany | |
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The Cryptostylis ovata, also known as the slipper orchid or western tongue orchid, is a special type of orchid. It only grows in Western Australia. This orchid is quite common and blooms in the summer. It has dark green leaves with a white line down the middle. Its flowers are pale green, and they have a brownish-red "lip" (called a labellum) with a cool pattern of darker lines.
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What the Slipper Orchid Looks Like
The Slipper Orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It usually grows in groups, but only a few plants might flower each year.
Leaves
This orchid has one to several leaves that look like eggs. Each leaf is about 10 to 25 centimeters (4 to 10 inches) long. They are also about 4 to 8 centimeters (1.5 to 3 inches) wide. The leaves sit on a stalk (called a petiole) that is about 3 to 6 centimeters (1 to 2.5 inches) long. The top of the leaves is dark green with a white line, and the bottom is reddish-purple. This orchid is special because it's the only one in Western Australia that keeps its leaves all year round!
Flowers
The Slipper Orchid has between four and fifteen flowers. Each flower is about 2 to 3 centimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) long and 1.5 to 2 centimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) wide. These flowers grow on a tall stem that can be 25 to 70 centimeters (10 to 28 inches) high.
The sepals and petals of the flower are greenish-yellow. The sepals are about 2 to 3 centimeters long and 4 to 5 millimeters wide. The petals are a bit shorter and narrower. The most noticeable part of the flower is its "lip," or labellum. This lip is about 2.6 to 3 centimeters (1 to 1.2 inches) long. It sticks out straight and is reddish-brown with a fine network of darker lines. The Slipper Orchid blooms from November to February.
How the Slipper Orchid Got Its Name
The Slipper Orchid, Cryptostylis ovata, was first officially described in 1810. A famous botanist named Robert Brown wrote about it. He published his description in a book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.
The second part of its name, ovata, is a Latin word. It means "egg-shaped." This name was chosen because of the egg-like shape of the orchid's leaves.
Where the Slipper Orchid Lives
The Slipper Orchid is common and can be found in many different places. It grows in coastal areas with low bushes and in forests that get a lot of rain. You can mostly find it between the cities of Perth and Albany in Western Australia. Sometimes, it's found even further east. It lives in several different natural areas, including the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, and Warren regions.
See also
In Spanish: Cypripedioideae para niños
