Curly locks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Curly locks |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelymitra
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| Species: |
spiralis
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Thelymitra spiralis, usually called curly locks, is a type of orchid. It belongs to the orchid family and is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This plant has a single leaf that often spirals around its stem. Its flowers can be pink, reddish, purplish, or blue. They also have two large yellow or orange parts that look like ears on the sides of the flower's central structure, called the column.
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What Does Curly Locks Look Like?
Curly locks is a plant that grows from a tuber (like a small potato) and lives for many years. It has one leaf that is egg-shaped near its reddish base. This leaf then quickly narrows into a long, grooved, or spirally twisted upper part. This upper part of the leaf is usually about 50 to 120 mm (2 to 5 inches) long and 2 to 5 mm (0.08 to 0.2 inches) wide.
The plant can have up to three flowers. These flowers are pink, reddish, purplish, or blue, and sometimes have darker lines or spots. They are about 20 to 50 mm (0.8 to 2 inches) wide. The flowers grow on a stem that can be 50 to 450 mm (2 to 18 inches) tall.
The sepals and petals, which are parts of the flower, are about 10 to 25 mm (0.4 to 1 inch) long and 4 to 9 mm (0.16 to 0.35 inches) wide. The column, which is the central part of the flower, is similar in color to the petals. It is about 5 to 6 mm (0.2 to 0.24 inches) long and 2 mm (0.08 inches) wide. The column has a small group of tiny glands on its back. There are also two ear-shaped, orange or yellow parts on the sides of the column.
These flowers can pollinate themselves. They usually open up on hot days. Curly locks flowers between July and September.
How Curly Locks Got Its Name
Scientists first officially described curly locks in 1840. John Lindley gave it the name Macdonaldia spiralis. This description was published in a book called A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony. Later, in 1865, Ferdinand von Mueller changed its name to Thelymitra spiralis. He published this new name in his work called Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.
The second part of its scientific name, spiralis, comes from a Latin word. It means "coil" or "twist." This name refers to the spirally twisted leaf of the plant.
Where Curly Locks Lives
Thelymitra spiralis grows in areas that get very wet during winter. It often grows alongside sedges, which are grass-like plants. You can find this orchid between Kalbarri and the Cape Arid National Park. However, it is now very rare to find it near Perth.
Is Curly Locks Endangered?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Thelymitra spiralis as "not threatened." This means that currently, there are enough of these plants, and they are not considered to be in danger of disappearing.
