Giant beard orchid facts for kids

The Calochilus grandiflorus, often called the giant beard orchid or golden beard orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in eastern Australia. This orchid has a single leaf with a reddish bottom. It can grow up to fifteen beautiful golden-bronze flowers. Each flower has a unique red or coppery-red "beard" that makes it stand out!

What the Giant Beard Orchid Looks Like

The giant beard orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It comes back every year and loses its leaves in the colder months. It has a special underground tuber (like a small potato) and one long, thin leaf. This leaf is about 30 to 50 mm (1.2 to 2.0 in) long and 5 to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) wide, usually with a reddish base. The leaf is fully grown when the first flower opens.

This orchid can have up to fifteen golden-bronze flowers. Each flower is about 35 to 45 mm (1.4 to 1.8 in) long and 22 to 28 mm (0.9 to 1.1 in) wide. They grow on a thin, strong stem that can be 300 to 600 mm (12 to 24 in) tall.

Let's look closer at the flower parts:

• The top petal, called the dorsal sepal, is about 15 to 18 mm (0.6 to 0.7 in) long and 9 to 12 mm (0.4 to 0.5 in) wide.
• The side petals, called lateral sepals, are similar in length but a bit narrower.
• The other petals are about 8 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long and 8 mm (0.3 in) wide.
• The most interesting part is the labellum. This is a flat, lip-like petal that is about 35 to 40 mm (1.4 to 1.6 in) long and 8 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) wide. It has thin red bumps, called calli, near its base.
• The middle part of the labellum has rough, coppery-red or yellowish hairs that can be up to 11 mm (0.4 in) long. This is the "beard" part!
• The very tip of the labellum has a special "tail" that can be up to 22 mm (0.9 in) long.
• The central part of the flower, called the column, has two purple "eyes."

These orchids usually bloom from September to December.

How it Got its Name

The giant beard orchid was first officially described in 1873 by a scientist named George Bentham. He first called it Calochilus campestris var. grandiflorus. Later, in 1915, another scientist named Karel Domin decided it was special enough to be its own species.

The scientific name grandiflorus comes from two Latin words:

• grandis, which means "large," "great," or "magnificent."
• flos, which means "flower."

So, its name basically means "magnificent large flower," which fits this beautiful orchid perfectly!

Where the Giant Beard Orchid Lives

You can find the Calochilus grandiflorus growing in areas close to the coast. It likes heathlands, which are open areas with small shrubs. Sometimes, it can also be found on nearby mountains. It grows in New South Wales, mainly north of Bulahdelah, and also in southeastern Queensland.