Bell-flower hyacinth orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bell-flower hyacinth orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dipodium
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| Species: |
campanulatum
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The bell-flower hyacinth orchid (scientific name: Dipodium campanulatum) is a special type of orchid found only in south-eastern Australia. It's unusual because it doesn't have leaves. Instead, it gets its food from fungi in the soil. In summer, you can see its beautiful white flowers with big, dark red spots.
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About the Bell-Flower Hyacinth Orchid
This orchid is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. For most of the year, it stays hidden underground. It has no leaves and grows from a tuber, which is like a swollen underground stem.
What Does This Orchid Look Like?
The bell-flower hyacinth orchid sends up a flowering stem between December and February. This stem can grow quite tall, reaching about 40 to 70 centimeters (16 to 28 inches) high. On each stem, you can find between 15 and 35 flowers.
The flowers are white with large, dark red spots and blotches. They are slightly bell-shaped and measure about 15 to 30 millimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) wide. Each flower sits on a small stalk called a pedicel.
The flower parts, called sepals and petals, are about 12 to 14 millimeters (0.5 inches) long. They are separate from each other, and their tips curve a little bit forward. The special lower petal, called the labellum, is about 12 to 16 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. It has a thin band of soft, purplish hairs in the middle.
How the Orchid Got Its Name
The bell-flower hyacinth orchid was officially described in 1991. This was done by an Australian botanist named David Jones. He published his findings in a book called Australian Orchid Research.
Meaning of campanulatum
The second part of its scientific name, campanulatum, comes from Latin. It means "little bell." This name was chosen because the orchid's flowers look a bit like small bells.
Where the Bell-Flower Orchid Lives
You can find the bell-flower hyacinth orchid in south-eastern Australia. It grows in South Australia near the border with Victoria. It is also found near a town called Apsley in Victoria.
Its Plant Neighbors
This orchid often grows near certain types of trees. These include stringybark trees, like Eucalyptus baxteri or Eucalyptus arenacea, and Eucalyptus leucoxylon. Other plants that grow nearby are wattles (Acacia species), bracken ferns (Pteridium esculentum), cranberry heath (Astroloma humifusum), and magenta storksbill (Pelargonium rodneyanum).
How the Orchid Spreads Seeds
Like all orchids in its group (the Dipodium genus), the bell-flower hyacinth orchid relies on insects to help it reproduce. Its flowers are pollinated by different types of native bees and wasps. These insects carry pollen from one flower to another, helping the orchid make seeds.
Protecting This Special Orchid
The bell-flower hyacinth orchid is considered an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
Conservation Status
- The Australian Government lists it as "endangered" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
- In South Australia, it is listed as "vulnerable."
- In Victoria, it is also listed as "endangered" under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
- The Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries also includes it on their list of rare or threatened plants.
These listings show how important it is to protect this unique orchid and its habitat.
Why It's Hard to Grow This Orchid
It has been very difficult to grow leafless Dipodium orchids, including the bell-flower hyacinth orchid, outside of their natural environment. This is because they need a special connection with certain fungi in the soil to survive. Scientists haven't yet figured out how to create this exact relationship in a garden or nursery.
