Dense potato orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dense potato orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gastrodia
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| Species: |
crebriflora
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The dense potato orchid (scientific name: Gastrodia crebriflora) is a unique type of orchid. Unlike most plants, it doesn't have leaves. It grows on the ground and gets its food from fungi in the soil. This special orchid is part of the Orchidaceae family, which includes all orchids. It has a light brown stem that produces many flowers. These flowers are usually white to pale brown, hang downwards, and grow close together. You can only find this rare orchid in the Blackdown Tableland area of Queensland, Australia.
About the Dense Potato Orchid
The dense potato orchid is a plant that grows from the ground without any leaves. It has a shiny, slightly thick, pale brown stem that can grow quite tall. This stem holds between ten and thirty-five flowers. These flowers are pale brown to white, hang down, and are shaped like tubes.
The parts of the flower that look like petals (called sepals and petals) are joined together. They form a tube about 12 to 14 millimeters (about half an inch) long. The very end of the tube opens up with spreading tips. The base of this tube feels a bit bumpy, and the inside is white. Inside the flower's tube is a special lip-like part called the labellum. It's about 10 to 12 millimeters long and about 3.5 millimeters wide, completely hidden inside the flower's tube.
These orchids usually bloom from September to October. Their flowers don't last very long because they can pollinate themselves. This means they don't need insects or other animals to help them make seeds.
How It Got Its Name
The dense potato orchid was officially described in 1991 by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of this orchid on the Blackdown Tableland in 1988. The description was then published in a science journal called Australian Orchid Research.
The second part of its scientific name, crebriflora, comes from two Latin words. "Creber" means "thick," "close," or "numerous," and "flos" means "flower." So, "crebriflora" refers to the many flowers that grow close together on this orchid's stem.
Where It Lives
The dense potato orchid likes to grow in loose groups. You can find it in tall forests on the Blackdown Tableland. This area provides the right kind of soil and fungi that the orchid needs to survive.
Protecting This Orchid
Because this orchid is quite rare and only found in one specific area, it needs special protection. The Queensland Government has listed it as "vulnerable" under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. This means that without careful management and protection, this unique plant could be at risk of disappearing in the future. Efforts are made to protect its habitat and ensure its survival.
