Drooping cane orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Drooping cane orchid |
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| Dendrobium moorei at 820 metres above sea level in the cloud forest at Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island | |
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The drooping cane orchid (scientific name: Dendrobium moorei) is a special type of orchid. It grows on other plants or rocks, mostly on Lord Howe Island. This orchid is known for its small, white flowers that hang down and do not open very wide.
What Does It Look Like?
The drooping cane orchid is an orchid that can grow in two ways. It can be an epiphyte, meaning it grows on trees. It can also be a lithophyte, which means it grows on rocks.
Stems and Leaves
This orchid has thick, green or yellowish stems called pseudobulbs. These pseudobulbs are like storage tanks for water and nutrients. They are usually about 10 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches) long. Each stem has two to five leaves. These leaves are tough and leathery, and they are dark green. They can be about 6 to 15 centimeters (2.4 to 6 inches) long.
Flowers
The drooping cane orchid produces between two and fifteen white flowers. These flowers hang down, which is why it's called the "drooping" cane orchid. Each flower has a tube-shaped base. The flowers are small, about 8 to 12 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long. They do not open very wide.
The flower has parts called sepals and petals. The sepals and petals are thin and pointed. There is also a special part called the labellum, which is like a lip. The labellum is about 8 millimeters (0.3 inches) long. Sometimes, it has faint pink marks. This orchid usually flowers between August and May.
How It Was Named
The drooping cane orchid was first officially described in 1869. This was done by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He described it from a plant sample collected by Charles Moore.
The scientific name Dendrobium moorei was published in a book called Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. The second part of its name, moorei, was chosen to honor Charles Moore. He was the person who found the first plant sample that scientists used to describe this species. This first sample is called the "type specimen."
Where It Lives
The drooping cane orchid is found only on Lord Howe Island. This means it is endemic to that island. It grows on trees and rocks in forests that are humid and protected from strong winds. You can usually find it at higher altitudes, above 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level.
