Large pouched orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Large pouched orchid |
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| Illustration by Lewis Roberts | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Robiquetia
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| Species: |
gracilistipes
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The large pouched orchid, also known as Robiquetia gracilistipes, is a special type of orchid. It's called an epiphyte because it grows on other plants, like trees. It can also be a lithophyte, meaning it grows on rocks! This orchid forms big, hanging bunches. It has thick roots, a single stem, and many tough, leathery leaves. Its flowers are cream, pale green, or brownish, often with red spots. They also have a unique three-lobed part called a labellum. You can find this orchid in rainforests, usually where there's lots of sunlight. It lives in places like New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and tropical North Queensland in Australia.
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What Does the Large Pouched Orchid Look Like?
The large pouched orchid is a plant that grows on trees or rocks. It forms big, messy clumps that hang down. This orchid has thick roots and a stem that can be from 30 to 150 centimeters (about 1 to 5 feet) long. The stem is about 6 millimeters (a quarter of an inch) thick.
It has many thick, leathery leaves. Each leaf is about 15 to 25 centimeters (6 to 10 inches) long. They are also about 3.5 to 6 centimeters (1.4 to 2.4 inches) wide.
Flowers of the Large Pouched Orchid
This orchid produces many flowers, usually between ten and forty. The flowers are cup-shaped and hang down on a stem that is 15 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) long. They can be cream-colored, pale green, or brownish, and often have red spots.
Each flower is about 9 to 11 millimeters (0.35 to 0.43 inches) long and 6 to 7 millimeters (0.24 to 0.28 inches) wide. They also smell nice! The sepals and petals are thick and shaped like an egg. They are about 3 to 4 millimeters long.
The labellum is a special part of the flower. It is yellow and has three lobes. The middle lobe is fleshy and has a spur that points downwards. This orchid usually flowers from March to May.
Naming the Large Pouched Orchid
The large pouched orchid was first officially described in 1905. A scientist named Rudolf Schlechter gave it the name Saccolabium gracilistipes. He wrote about it in a book called Die Flora der Deutschen Schutzgebiete in der Sudsee und Nachtrage.
Later, in 1912, another scientist named Johannes Jacobus Smith changed its name to Robiquetia gracilistipes. The second part of its name, gracilistipes, comes from two Latin words. Gracilis means "slender" or "thin." Stipes means "stem" or "trunk." So, its name describes its slender stem.
Where Does the Large Pouched Orchid Live?
The large pouched orchid lives in rainforests. It usually grows on trees or rocks where it can get plenty of sunlight. You can find this orchid in a region called Malesia. This includes places like New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. In Australia, it grows in Queensland, from the Iron Range area down to Ingham.
