Desert mignonette orchid facts for kids

The desert mignonette orchid (also called the dryland onion orchid) is a special type of orchid. Its scientific name is Microtis eremicola. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.

This orchid has one hollow leaf that looks a bit like an onion. It can grow up to 50 small flowers. These flowers are usually dull green or yellowish-green. You can often find this orchid growing in soil on big granite rocks in inland areas. It is most common between the towns of Hyden and Balladonia.

What Does the Desert Mignonette Orchid Look Like?

The desert mignonette orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times.

It has one tall, smooth, hollow leaf. This leaf can be about 15 to 40 centimetres (6 to 16 inches) long. It is usually 5 to 8 millimetres (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.

The Flowers of This Orchid

The plant grows a flowering stem that can be 20 to 50 centimetres (8 to 20 inches) tall. On this stem, you'll find between 20 and 50 flowers. These flowers are dull green or yellowish-green. They usually hang downwards.

Each flower is quite small, about 3 to 4 millimetres (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long. They are also 2 to 3 millimetres (0.08 to 0.1 inches) wide.

Parts of the Flower

Orchid flowers have special parts:

• The dorsal sepal is like a small hood over the top of the flower. It is about 2 to 2.5 millimetres (0.08 to 0.1 inches) long.
• The lateral sepals curl downwards. They are about 2.5 to 3 millimetres (0.1 to 0.12 inches) long.
• The petals are held under the top sepal. They are about 1.5 to 2 millimetres (0.06 to 0.08 inches) long.
• The labellum is a special lip-like petal. It is oblong, about 3 to 3.5 millimetres (0.12 to 0.14 inches) long. It turns downwards and has rough edges.

This orchid usually flowers from September to November.

How Was This Orchid Named?

The desert mignonette orchid was first officially described in 1990. A scientist named Robert Bates gave it the name Microtis media subsp. eremicola. He published his description in a science journal called Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.

Later, in 2004, two other scientists, David Jones and Mark Clements, changed its name. They gave it the name Microtis eremicola.

What Does "Eremicola" Mean?

The second part of its scientific name, eremicola, comes from Latin. It means "dweller of dry places." This name perfectly describes where this orchid likes to live.

Where Does the Desert Mignonette Orchid Grow?

The Microtis eremicola is one of the most common Microtis orchids. It grows in dry, arid areas. You can find it in several places:

• On large granite rock formations.
• At the edges of salt lakes.
• Along natural water channels called drainage lines.

It is found across a wide area, from Geraldton to Israelite Bay. However, it is most often seen between Hyden and Balladonia in Western Australia.

Is This Orchid Protected?

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Microtis eremicola as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.