Little Esperance bee orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little Esperance bee orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Diuris
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| Species: |
immaculata
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The Little Esperance bee orchid (scientific name: Diuris immaculata) is a very special and rare type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This beautiful orchid has golden yellow flowers with no spots or marks. This is why its scientific name, immaculata, means "unstained" or "unspotted". You can only find this unique plant near a town called Esperance.
What it Looks Like
The Little Esperance bee orchid is a plant that grows from a tuber, which is like a small underground storage part. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. Each plant usually has four to six long, thin leaves. These leaves are about 40 to 80 mm (1.5 to 3 inches) long.
The orchid grows a flowering stem that can be 80 to 300 mm (3 to 12 inches) tall. On this stem, you might see up to three bright golden yellow flowers. These flowers are about 15 to 18 mm (0.6 to 0.7 inches) long and 9 to 12 mm (0.35 to 0.47 inches) wide. They have no spots or markings, making them look very pure.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, curves upwards. The side sepals hang down. The petals are held above the rest of the flower. The special lower lip of the flower, called the labellum, has three parts and turns slightly downwards. This orchid usually flowers between September and November, especially after a bushfire.
How it Got its Name
The Little Esperance bee orchid was first officially described in 2006. A botanist named David Jones gave it the scientific name Diuris immaculata. He found a sample of the plant north-east of Esperance.
The word immaculata comes from Latin. It means "unstained" or "unspotted". This name was chosen because the flowers of this orchid are a pure yellow color, without any spots or marks.
Where it Lives
This special orchid grows in areas that get very wet during winter. You can find it in a region stretching from north-east of Esperance all the way to the Cape Arid National Park in Western Australia.
Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Diuris immaculata as "not threatened". This means that, for now, it is not considered to be in danger of disappearing.
