Green-hooded rein orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green-hooded rein orchid |
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| Drawing of H. chlorosepala by Lewis Roberts | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Habenaria
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| Species: |
chlorosepala
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The green-hooded rein orchid (scientific name: Habenaria chlorosepala) is a special type of orchid. It only grows in a small part of Far North Queensland in Australia. This orchid has a few leaves near its base. It also grows up to twenty small flowers that are green and white.
What It Looks Like
The green-hooded rein orchid is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years. It grows from a tuber, which is like a small underground storage organ.
Its leaves are bluish-green and stand upright. There are usually two or three leaves. Each leaf is about 20–60 mm (0.8–2 in) long and 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide.
The Flowers
This orchid grows a tall flowering stem. This stem can be 200–530 mm (8–20 in) tall. It holds between eight and twenty green flowers. Each flower has a white labellum, which is a special lip-like petal.
The flowers are small, about 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. The top sepal (a leaf-like part that protects the flower bud) and the petals join together. They form a small hood over the column, which is the central part of the orchid flower.
The sepals and petals are about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The side sepals spread out wide. The labellum (lip) is 4.5–5 mm (0.18–0.20 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide. It has three parts, called lobes. The two side lobes stick out at a right angle from the middle lobe.
There is also a white spur on the labellum. This spur is 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. It curves forward. These orchids usually bloom between January and April.
How It Got Its Name
The green-hooded rein orchid was officially described in 1998. This was done by a botanist named David Jones. He used a plant sample collected by Lewis Roberts in 1993. This sample was found near Cooktown.
The scientific name, chlorosepala, comes from two old words. Chloros is an Ancient Greek word meaning "green". Sepalum is a New Latin word for a "leafy part of the calyx". The calyx is the group of sepals that protect the flower. So, the name means "green sepal".
Where It Lives
The green-hooded rein orchid only grows in a small area. This area is south of Cooktown in Queensland, Australia. It likes to grow among low plants in woodlands. These woodlands are usually wet during the summer months.
