Dark crown orchid facts for kids

The dark crown orchid, known scientifically as Tropidia viridifusca, is a special type of plant. It stays green all year round and grows on the ground. This orchid has thin, dark green leaves that look like they've been folded. These leaves grow on a slender stem that stands upright.

At the top of the stem, you'll find a short flowering stalk. On this stalk, there can be up to seven green and brown flowers. This unique orchid is only found on a few islands in the Pacific Ocean, not far from Australia.

What Does the Dark Crown Orchid Look Like?

The dark crown orchid is a plant that grows from the ground, not on trees. It has thin but strong stems that stand tall, usually between 15 and 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) high. Each stem has about four to seven leaves.

These leaves are thin, dark green, and have a pleated or folded look. They are typically 5 to 15 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) long and 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) wide. You can easily spot three main veins running through each leaf.

Above the leaves, a short flowering stem appears, usually about 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) long. This stem holds two to seven green and brown flowers. Each flower opens wide and is about 8 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.

Flower Parts Explained

The flowers have different parts:

• Sepals: These are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. In the dark crown orchid, they are 8 to 9 millimeters (0.35 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.15 inches) wide. The two side sepals spread out wide.
• Petals: These are the colorful parts of the flower. The petals of this orchid are 7 to 8 millimeters (0.3 inches) long and 2 to 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide.
• Labellum: This is a special lip-like petal that helps attract pollinators. It is 6 to 8 millimeters (0.25 inches) long and about 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. The labellum is usually brown, sometimes almost black, and has a thick pouch at its base.

This orchid usually blooms during the summer months, from December to January.

Where Does the Dark Crown Orchid Live?

The dark crown orchid is quite rare and is only found in a few specific places. It grows on slopes in shady forests.

You can find this orchid on:

• Grande Terre, which is the main island of New Caledonia.
• The islands of Vanuatu.
• Norfolk Island.

These locations are all islands in the Pacific Ocean, east of Australia.

Naming the Dark Crown Orchid

The scientific name for the dark crown orchid is Tropidia viridifusca. A scientist named Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kraenzlin first officially described this plant in 1929. His description was published in a scientific journal called Vierteljahrsschrift der Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Zürich.

The second part of its scientific name, viridifusca, comes from two Latin words:

• viridis means "green".
• fuscus means "dusky" or "tawny" (a brownish-orange color).

This name perfectly describes the green and brown colors of its flowers.