Kangarooby midge orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kangarooby midge orchid |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Genoplesium
|
| Species: |
systenum
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Kangarooby midge orchid (scientific name: Genoplesium superbum) is a tiny orchid that grows only in New South Wales, Australia. It has one thin leaf. Its flowers are light reddish and can be up to 32 in number. They are hairy and point downwards. Each flower has a dark purple "labellum," which is a special lip-like petal.
Contents
What the Kangarooby Midge Orchid Looks Like
The Kangarooby midge orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times.
Leaves and Stems
This orchid has a single thin leaf. This leaf can be about 12 to 30 centimeters (5 to 12 inches) long. A small part of the leaf, about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters (0.6 to 1 inch) long, is free from the stem.
The flowers grow along a special stem. This flowering stem is usually 3 to 6 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) long. The whole plant can reach a height of 15 to 36 centimeters (6 to 14 inches).
Flowers and Their Parts
Each plant can have between 12 and 32 light reddish flowers. These flowers hang downwards and are about 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide. Like other orchids in its group, the flowers are upside down. This means the labellum (a special petal) is above the column (the central part of the flower) instead of below it.
- The dorsal sepal is the top part of the flower. It is shaped like an egg, about 3.5 millimeters long and 2.5 millimeters wide. It is greenish with reddish-purple stripes and has hairy edges.
- The lateral sepals are the two side parts. They are long and narrow, about 5 millimeters long and 1.5 millimeters wide. They are light reddish-green and spread wide apart.
- The petals are narrow and egg-shaped. They are about 3 millimeters long and 1 millimeter wide. They have hairy edges and are similar in color to the dorsal sepal.
- The labellum is a dark purple, narrow, egg-shaped petal. It is about 3.5 millimeters long and 1.5 millimeters wide. Its edges have coarse, spreading hairs up to 1 millimeter long. There is also a dark purple "callus" (a raised, fleshy part) in the center of the labellum. This callus covers about three-quarters of its surface.
The Kangarooby midge orchid usually flowers from February to April.
How the Orchid Got Its Name
The Kangarooby midge orchid was first officially described in 1991. This was done by a botanist named David Jones. The description was published in a research paper called Australian Orchid Research.
In 2002, David Jones and Mark Clements changed its scientific name to Corunastylis systena.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its scientific name, systenum, comes from an Ancient Greek word. This word, systenos, means "tapering to a point." This refers to the pointed shape of the orchid's labellum.
The common name, Kangarooby, comes from a place called Kangarooby. This area is located near Forbes in New South Wales.
Where the Kangarooby Midge Orchid Grows
Genoplesium systenum grows in specific areas in New South Wales. You can find it under shrubs on forested ridges and slopes. These areas are located on the ranges near Cowra. This includes places like the Conimbla National Park and Weddin Mountains National Park.
