Cape York crimp orchid facts for kids

The Dendrobium clementsii, often called the Cape York crimp orchid, is a special type of orchid. It's an epiphytic or lithophytic plant, meaning it grows on other plants or rocks instead of in the soil. This orchid is only found in tropical North Queensland, Australia. It has long stems and unique "false bulbs" called pseudobulbs. Each pseudobulb has a thin, leathery, dark green leaf. The orchid produces clusters of cream-colored flowers with a purple labellum, which is the orchid's special lip. These flowers are beautiful but don't last very long.

What Does the Cape York Crimp Orchid Look Like?

The Cape York crimp orchid is a herb that can grow on trees or rocks. Its stems can reach up to about 1 meter (3.3 feet) long. The pseudobulbs are dark green to yellowish and have grooves. They start at about 30 cm (12 inches) long and 5 mm (0.2 inches) wide, getting smaller along the stem.

Each pseudobulb has a single, thin, leathery, dark green leaf at its end. These leaves are usually between 15 cm (5.9 inches) and 22 cm (8.7 inches) long, and 7 cm (2.8 inches) to 10 cm (3.9 inches) wide.

The orchid produces clusters of cream-colored flowers at the base of the leaves. Each flower is about 14 mm (0.55 inches) to 20 mm (0.79 inches) long and 20 mm (0.79 inches) to 25 mm (0.98 inches) wide. The sepals, which are like outer petals, are lance-shaped and about 10 mm (0.39 inches) to 12 mm (0.47 inches) long. The actual petals are similar in length but much narrower, only about 1 mm (0.04 inches) wide.

The most striking part is the labellum, or lip, which is purple. It's about 13 mm (0.51 inches) to 15 mm (0.59 inches) long and 5 mm (0.20 inches) to 6 mm (0.24 inches) wide, and it has three parts called lobes. The two side lobes are about 8 mm (0.31 inches) long and have a short fringe. The middle lobe has wavy hairs, about 5 mm (0.20 inches) long, on its tip. This orchid can flower at different times throughout the year, but its flowers only last for less than a day.

How Did the Cape York Crimp Orchid Get Its Name?

The Cape York crimp orchid was first officially described in 2004 by a botanist named David Jones. He first named it Flickingeria clementsii in a publication called The Orchadian. Later, in 2014, another botanist named Julian Mark Hugh Shaw changed its name to Dendrobium clementsii, which is what we call it today.

Where Does the Cape York Crimp Orchid Live?

You can find the Cape York crimp orchid growing on rocks and trees in the rainforests of the Iron and McIlwraith Ranges. These ranges are located on the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. It loves the warm, wet conditions of the rainforest.