Large veined sun orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Large veined sun orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelymitra
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| Species: |
venosa
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| Synonyms | |
The Large Veined Sun Orchid, also known as Thelymitra venosa, is a special type of orchid that only grows in New South Wales, Australia. It has a single long, thick leaf and usually up to six bright blue flowers. These flowers have darker lines, like veins, on them. What's cool about this orchid is that its flowers usually stay open even when it's cloudy, unlike many other sun orchids!
What it Looks Like
The Large Veined Sun Orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (a bit like a potato). It lives for many years. It has one thick, grooved leaf that is about 15 to 30 centimeters (6-12 inches) long and 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2-0.3 inches) wide.
This orchid can have up to six bright blue flowers with darker veins. Each flower is about 3.5 to 5 centimeters (1.4-2 inches) wide. They grow on a stem that can be 40 to 70 centimeters (16-28 inches) tall. The outer parts of the flower, called sepals and petals, are about 1.6 to 2.5 centimeters (0.6-1 inch) long. The lowest petal, called the labellum, is bigger than the others.
The central part of the flower, called the column, is white or light purple. It has yellow, twisted parts on its sides. A unique thing about this orchid is that its flowers usually stay open even on cloudy days, and sometimes they even stay open at night! You can see these orchids flowering from October to January.
How it Got its Name
The Large Veined Sun Orchid was first officially described in 1810 by a botanist named Robert Brown. He published his description in a book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.
The scientific name, venosa, comes from a Latin word that means "veiny." This name perfectly describes the darker, vein-like lines you can see on the orchid's bright blue petals.
Where it Lives
You can find the Large Veined Sun Orchid growing on sandstone rock ledges. It likes to live among small shrubs, sedges (grass-like plants), and mosses. It is mostly found in the Blue Mountains area of New South Wales, and also in some nearby coastal spots.
