Imperial beard orchid facts for kids

The imperial beard orchid, also known by its scientific name Calochilus imperiosus, is a special type of orchid. You can only find it growing naturally in northern Australia. This orchid has one leaf and can grow up to fifteen dull green flowers. These flowers often have cool red or purple patterns. They also have a unique part called a labellum that looks like it has a pinkish-red "beard"!

What is the Imperial Beard Orchid Like?

The imperial beard orchid is a plant that grows in the ground, not on other plants or trees. It's a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times of the year. This plant is a herb, meaning it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree.

Under the ground, it has a special storage part called a tuber. It grows a single leaf that is only partly grown when the flowers appear. This leaf can be 350–580 mm (10–20 in) long and 15–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) wide when it's fully grown.

The orchid can have between five and fifteen dull green flowers. These flowers often have red or purple marks. Each flower is about 25–28 mm (0.98–1.1 in) long and 15–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in) wide. They grow on a tall stem that can be 400–700 mm (20–30 in) high.

The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, is about 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 8 mm (0.3 in) wide. The two side sepals are similar in length but are about 5 mm (0.2 in) wide. The petals are 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide.

The most interesting part is the labellum, which curves downwards. It's about 20–22 mm (0.8–0.9 in) long and 9 mm (0.4 in) wide. The base of the labellum has shiny purple bumps called calli and two purple lines. The middle part has pinkish-red hairs that can be up to 5 mm (0.2 in) long, making it look like a beard. There's also a small tip about 3 mm (0.1 in) long.

These orchids usually flower from December to February. But each flower only stays open for a short time, usually just two to four days!

How Was the Imperial Beard Orchid Named?

The scientific name Calochilus imperiosus was first officially described in 2004. This was done by a botanist named David Jones. He wrote about it in a publication called The Orchadian. His description was based on plants he found south of Cooktown.

The second part of the scientific name, imperiosus, comes from a Latin word. It means "powerful," "mighty," or "domineering." This name probably refers to how impressive or striking the orchid looks.

Where Does the Imperial Beard Orchid Live?

The imperial beard orchid grows in different types of open areas. You can find it in grasslands, or in grassy woodlands and forests. It lives in northern Queensland, specifically between Cooktown and Herberton. It also grows near a place called Kapalga, which is inside Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory.