Creeping star orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Creeping star orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dendrobium
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| Species: |
glabrum
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| Synonyms | |
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The creeping star orchid (scientific name: Dendrobium glabrum) is a cool type of orchid that grows on trees. It's found in places like New Guinea and Australia. This orchid gets its name because its flowers look like tiny white stars! It's also called "creeping" because it spreads out and forms big groups on tree trunks.
What it Looks Like
The creeping star orchid is a special kind of plant called an epiphyte. This means it grows on other plants, like trees, but it doesn't take food from them. It just uses the tree for support!
This orchid has shiny, yellowish-green stems called pseudobulbs. These pseudobulbs are about 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long and 12–15 mm (0.47–0.59 in) wide. Each pseudobulb has one tough, leathery leaf that is about 60–75 mm (2.4–3.0 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide. At the bottom of the leaf, there's a thin, papery part called a bract.
The flowers of the creeping star orchid are white and shaped like stars, with yellowish tips. They are about 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) long and wide. These flowers grow on a thin stalk about 30 mm (1.2 in) long, coming from where the leaf meets the stem.
Each flower has parts called sepals, which are about 14–16 mm (0.55–0.63 in) long. The petals are a bit longer but only half as wide. There's also a special petal called the labellum, which is about 8 mm (0.3 in) long. It has wavy edges near its base and two small bumps along its middle.
A unique thing about these flowers is that they don't last very long, only a few hours! They can bloom at different times throughout the year.
How it Got its Name
The scientific name for this orchid is Dendrobium glabrum. It was first officially described in 1907 by a scientist named Johannes Jacobus Smith. The second part of its name, glabrum, comes from a Latin word that means "smooth."
Where it Lives
You can find the creeping star orchid growing on trees in humid (meaning very moist) forests. It lives in New Guinea and in a part of Australia called the Cape York Peninsula, as far south as a city called Cairns. It likes to form big groups on the trees in these forests.
