Northern rock orchid facts for kids

The Dendrobium rupicoloides, also called the northern rock orchid, is a type of orchid. It grows on rocks, not in soil. This orchid is special because it only grows in tropical North Queensland, Australia. It has thick, green or reddish stems called pseudobulbs. It also has up to three strong, leathery leaves. When it blooms, it produces many white flowers. These flowers have purple markings on their special lip, called a labellum.

What the Northern Rock Orchid Looks Like

The northern rock orchid is a plant that grows on rocks. It has roots that spread out. Its stems, called pseudobulbs, are shaped like cylinders. They are green to reddish in color. These pseudobulbs are about 150–240 mm (6–9 in) long and 30–40 mm (1–2 in) wide.

Each pseudobulb has up to three thick, dark green leaves. These leaves are strong and feel like leather. They grow from the top of the pseudobulb. Each leaf is about 100–180 mm (4–7 in) long and 40–80 mm (2–3 in) wide.

This orchid can have many flowers, usually between thirty and fifty. The flowers are white and measure about 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) wide. They grow on a long flowering stem. This stem can be 300–550 mm (10–20 in) long.

The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, is oblong. It is about 18–24 mm (0.71–0.94 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. The side sepals are about 16–20 mm (0.63–0.79 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. They are very curved and spread out. The petals are thin and oblong. They are about 18–23 mm (0.71–0.91 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide, and also curved.

The labellum is the special lip of the orchid flower. It is white or cream-colored with purple marks. It is about 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) long and 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) wide. The labellum has three parts, called lobes. The two side lobes are shaped like a crescent moon. The middle lobe is short and has an orange line down its center. This orchid usually flowers between October and December.

How the Northern Rock Orchid Got Its Name

The northern rock orchid was first officially described in 2006. Two botanists, David Jones and Mark Clements, described it. They studied a plant that grew at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. This plant came from a sample collected near Blencoe Falls.

They first named it Thelychiton rupicola. This description was published in a research paper called Australian Orchid Research. Later, in 2014, another botanist named Julian Shaw changed its name. He renamed it Dendrobium rupicoloides. This was because the name Dendrobium rupicola was already used for a different orchid.

The second part of the original name, rupicola, comes from Latin words. Rupes means "rock". -Cola means "dweller" or "inhabitant". So, rupicola means "rock dweller." This describes how the orchid grows on rocks. The ending -oides means "like" or "resembling". So, rupicoloides means "resembling the rock dweller."

Where the Northern Rock Orchid Lives

The northern rock orchid grows on large rocks and cliffs. You can find it in areas near Mount Windsor and the Atherton Tablelands. It might also grow as far south as Sarina.