Native damsel orchid facts for kids

The Native damsel orchid, also known by its scientific name Dendrobium fellowsii, is a special type of orchid. It often grows on other plants like trees (this is called being an epiphyte) or on rocks (this is called being a lithophyte).

This orchid has upright, thick stems called pseudobulbs. It usually has up to five leaves. Its flowers are pale green or yellowish and have a striking deep purple labellum, which is the orchid's special lip-like petal. You can find this beautiful orchid growing in tropical North Queensland, Australia.

What the Native Damsel Orchid Looks Like

The Native damsel orchid is a type of herb that can grow on trees or rocks. It has upright, cylinder-shaped stems called pseudobulbs. These pseudobulbs are usually dark purplish and can be from 50 to 250 mm (about 2 to 10 inches) long and 6 to 10 mm (about 0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide.

Each plant has between two and five dark green leaves. These leaves are typically 15 to 100 mm (about 0.6 to 4 inches) long and 15 to 20 mm (about 0.6 to 0.8 inches) wide.

The Flowers of the Orchid

The Native damsel orchid produces flowering stems that are 40 to 80 mm (about 1.6 to 3.1 inches) long. Each stem can have between two and seven flowers. These flowers are pale green or yellowish.

The flowers are about 15 to 20 mm (about 0.6 to 0.8 inches) long and 20 to 25 mm (about 0.8 to 1 inch) wide. They are also resupinate, which means they appear upside down, with the lip (labellum) at the bottom.

Each flower has several parts:

• The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped and sits at the top. It is 6 to 10 mm (about 0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and about 5 mm (0.2 inches) wide.
• The lateral sepals are triangular and spread out to the sides. They are 8 to 12 mm (about 0.3 to 0.5 inches) long and about 5 mm (0.2 inches) wide.
• The petals are narrow and egg-shaped. They are 5 to 8 mm (about 0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and about 3 mm (0.1 inches) wide.

The most noticeable part is the labellum, which is the orchid's special lip. It is a deep purple color, about 10 mm (0.4 inches) long and 7 mm (0.3 inches) wide. The labellum has three main parts, called lobes. The two side lobes are quite large and curve upwards. The middle lobe is wide and has two parallel ridges on it. This orchid usually flowers between October and January.

How the Orchid Got its Name

The Native damsel orchid, Dendrobium fellowsii, was officially described for the first time in 1870. This was done by a famous botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He studied a plant sample that was collected near Rockingham Bay by John Dallachy.

Mueller published his description in a book called Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. The second part of its scientific name, fellowsii, was chosen to honor Thomas Howard Fellows.

Where the Native Damsel Orchid Lives

You can find the Native damsel orchid growing in rainforests. It prefers to live on trees or shrubs that have stringy or flaky bark. It also likes deep gullies or the edges of large granite rock areas.

In Australia, it grows in Queensland, specifically between Mount Finnigan in the Cedar Bay National Park and the city of Townsville. This orchid can also be found in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Protecting the Native Damsel Orchid

The Native damsel orchid is considered a "vulnerable" species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered if its habitat is not protected. The Queensland Government lists it as vulnerable under their Nature Conservation Act 1992. This law helps protect plants and animals that are facing threats.