Rainforest bells facts for kids
The Rainforest bells (scientific name: Gastrodia queenslandica) is a special type of orchid that doesn't have leaves. It grows on the ground in the rainforests of tropical north Queensland, Australia. This orchid gets its food from tiny fungi that live in the soil. It has one or two small, yellowish-brown flowers that look like tubes, growing on a thin stem that breaks easily.
Quick facts for kids Rainforest bells |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gastrodia
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| Species: |
queenslandica
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Contents
What Rainforest Bells Look Like
The Rainforest bells orchid is a plant that doesn't have any leaves. It grows on the ground and gets its food from fungi. It has a thin, light brown stem that is a bit fleshy and breaks easily. This stem holds one or two yellowish-brown flowers.
Flower Details
The flowers are shaped like tubes and are orange inside. The outer parts of the flower, called sepals and petals, are joined together. They form a tube about 10 mm (0.4 inches) long. The tips of the tube spread out. The outside of the tube feels rough, but the inside is smooth and orange.
Inside the flower tube is a special part called the labellum. It's about 5.5 mm (0.2 inches) long and 3 mm (0.1 inches) wide. The labellum is completely hidden inside the tube. Rainforest bells usually bloom between November and January.
How Rainforest Bells Got Their Name
The scientific name for Rainforest bells is Gastrodia queenslandica. A scientist named Alick William Dockrill first officially described this plant in 1964. He wrote about it in a publication called The North Queensland Naturalist.
Name Changes Over Time
Later, in 2004, two other scientists, David Jones and Mark Clements, suggested changing its name to Demorchis queenslandica. However, this new name has not been accepted by the main list of plant families around the world. So, it is still officially known as Gastrodia queenslandica.
Where Rainforest Bells Live
Rainforest bells grow in rainforests close to the coast in Queensland, Australia. You can find them between the Russell River and the McIlwraith Range. However, these orchids are very hard to spot, so they are rarely seen.
Protecting Rainforest Bells
Because Rainforest bells are so rare and hard to find, they are considered "near threatened." This means they could become endangered if we don't protect them. The Queensland Government has listed them under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 to help keep them safe.
