Inland rock orchid facts for kids

The Inland Rock Orchid (scientific name: Dendrobium coriaceum) is a special type of orchid. It grows on rocks, which is why it's called a "rock orchid"! You can only find this beautiful plant in North Queensland, Australia. It has thick, leathery leaves and pretty yellow or cream flowers. These flowers often have cool purple patterns on their lip-like part, called a labellum.

What Does the Inland Rock Orchid Look Like?

The Inland Rock Orchid is a plant that loves to grow on rocks. It has roots that spread out to hold on tight. It also has special storage parts called pseudobulbs. These pseudobulbs are green or reddish and are shaped like a cone. They can be about 15 to 22 centimetres (6 to 9 inches) long.

Each pseudobulb usually has up to three leaves. These leaves are thick, feel like leather, and are dark green. They grow from the top of the pseudobulb. The leaves can be about 8 to 16 centimetres (3 to 6 inches) long.

Flowers of the Inland Rock Orchid

This orchid produces many flowers, usually between twenty and forty at a time! The flowers are cream-coloured or yellow. They are about 3.5 to 5.5 centimetres (1 to 2 inches) long and wide. They grow on a long stem that can be up to 55 centimetres (22 inches) tall.

Each flower has three main parts:

• Sepals: These are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. The top sepal is oblong and about 2 to 2.5 centimetres (0.8 to 1 inch) long. The side sepals are a bit shorter and curve strongly.
• Petals: These are the colourful parts of the flower. The petals of this orchid are thin and about 1.5 to 2 centimetres (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long.
• Labellum: This is the special "lip" of the orchid flower. It's cream-coloured with reddish-purple stripes. It has three sections, called lobes. The side lobes stand up, and the middle lobe has a flat, square-like tip.

The Inland Rock Orchid usually blooms between August and October.

How the Inland Rock Orchid Got Its Name

The Inland Rock Orchid was first officially described in 2006. Two botanists, David Jones and Mark Clements, studied a plant found near Yeppoon. They first gave it the name Thelychiton coriaceus.

Later, in 2014, another botanist named Julian Shaw changed its name to Dendrobium coriaceum. The second part of its scientific name, coriaceum, is a Latin word. It means "of leather," which describes the thick, leathery feel of its leaves and flowers.

Where Does the Inland Rock Orchid Live?

The Inland Rock Orchid is found only in Queensland, Australia. It likes to grow on rocks and cliffs. You can find it in places like the Blackdown Tableland National Park and Carnarvon National Park.