Furrowed moon orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Furrowed moon orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dendrobium
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| Species: |
carrii
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| Synonyms | |
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The Dendrobium carrii, also known as the furrowed moon orchid, is a special type of orchid. It is an epiphyte, which means it grows on other plants, like trees, instead of in the soil. This beautiful orchid has unique stems called pseudobulbs, along with one or two leaves.
When it blooms, it produces lovely flowers. These flowers are usually white or cream-colored. They have a bright orange or yellow 'lip' (called a labellum). You can mostly find this orchid growing in the mountains of Queensland, Australia. It lives in the areas inland from Cape Tribulation and Innisfail.
What the Furrowed Moon Orchid Looks Like
The furrowed moon orchid is a plant that grows on trees. It has stems, called pseudobulbs, that are about 2 to 3.5 centimeters (about 1 to 1.5 inches) long. These stems are also about 1 to 1.5 centimeters (about half an inch) wide. Each pseudobulb has one or two thin, dark green leaves. These leaves are often furrowed, meaning they have small grooves. They grow to be about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long.
When the orchid flowers, it sends out a stem that is about 3 to 8 centimeters (1 to 3 inches) long. This stem holds between five and ten flowers. Each flower is white or cream-colored and about 8 to 10 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. The sepals and petals of the flower are about 10 to 14 millimeters (about 0.4 to 0.6 inches) long. They are narrow, about 1.5 to 2 millimeters (about 0.06 to 0.08 inches) wide, and have a pointed tip.
The most colorful part is the labellum, or 'lip,' which is orange or yellow. It is about 14 millimeters (about 0.6 inches) long and 6 millimeters (about 0.2 inches) wide. The labellum has three parts, called lobes. The two side lobes are short and rounded. The middle lobe has three faint ridges running down its center. These orchids usually bloom from August to October.
How the Furrowed Moon Orchid Got Its Name
The Dendrobium carrii was officially described in 1937. Two botanists, Herman Rupp and Cyril Tenison White, gave it its scientific name. They published their description in a magazine called The Queensland Naturalist.
The second part of its name, carrii, honors a person named Mr. Tom Carr. He lived in Julatten and was the first person to collect this specific orchid.
Where the Furrowed Moon Orchid Lives
The furrowed moon orchid prefers to grow on the outer branches of rainforest trees. These trees are often found in misty areas. You can find this orchid at high altitudes, usually between 900 and 1600 meters (about 3,000 to 5,200 feet) above sea level. It lives in the mountain ranges inland from Cape Tribulation and Innisfail in Queensland.
