Eastern underground orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastern underground orchid |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Rhizanthella
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| Species: |
slateri
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| Synonyms | |
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Cryptanthemis slateri Rupp |
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The Rhizanthella slateri, also known as the eastern underground orchid, is a very special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the orchid family. This amazing plant is found only in New South Wales, Australia. It spends most of its life hidden underground. Sometimes, its unique flowers might peek out just a few millimeters above the soil.
Contents
What Does the Eastern Underground Orchid Look Like?
The eastern underground orchid is a plant that doesn't have any leaves. It grows mostly underground. It has a whitish stem that can be up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. This stem is about 1.5 centimeters (about half an inch) wide. It has many overlapping leaf-like parts called bracts.
This plant often has branches, and each branch can have up to four flower heads. Each flower head can be up to 2 centimeters (less than an inch) wide. Inside these heads are up to thirty small, tube-shaped flowers. These flowers are usually purplish. They are surrounded by whitish, triangle-shaped bracts.
The top petal of the flower is curved and forms a little hood. The other petals are about half the size of the side petals. The labellum (a special orchid petal) is thick and shaped like a tongue. It's covered in tiny bumps. The flowers usually bloom in October and November. They can mature either underground or just slightly above the soil.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The eastern underground orchid was first officially described in 1932. A scientist named Herman Rupp gave it the name Cryptanthemis slateri. He wrote about it in a science journal called Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. The plant was found near a place called Bulahdelah in 1931.
Later, in 1985, two other scientists, Mark Clements and Phillip Cribb, changed its name to Rhizanthella slateri. The second part of its name, slateri, honors Ernest William Slater. He was the person who first discovered this unique orchid!
Where Does This Orchid Live?
The Rhizanthella slateri grows in forests. It usually likes to live under a thick layer of leaves and other plant material on the forest floor. This helps it stay hidden.
This orchid is found in a few specific areas in New South Wales. These include the Bulahdelah area, the Watagan Mountains, and the Blue Mountains. It also lives in Dharug National Park and near Nowra. Sadly, only a few individual plants are known in each of these places. Some plants that were once thought to be this species in Queensland are now known to be a different type of underground orchid called R. omissa.
Why Is This Orchid Endangered?
The eastern underground orchid is a very rare plant. It is listed as "endangered" by the Australian Government. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. The New South Wales Government also lists it as "vulnerable."
One group of these orchids near Bulahdelah was in danger because a new highway was being built. Luckily, the highway was slightly changed to save some of the plants. Some orchids were even carefully moved to a new, safe location. These efforts help protect this amazing and hidden plant for the future.
