Leafy hyacinth-orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leafy hyacinth orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dipodium
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| Species: |
ensifolium
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The leafy hyacinth orchid (Dipodium ensifolium) is a beautiful orchid that grows only in north-east Queensland, Australia. It's special because it has long, sword-shaped leaves and pretty pink or purple flowers with cool spots! This plant is found nowhere else in the world.
Contents
What the Leafy Hyacinth Orchid Looks Like
The leafy hyacinth orchid is a plant that lives for many years. It grows from underground tubers, which are like storage organs. It has one or more leafy stems that can be about 20 to 100 centimeters (8 to 39 inches) tall. The leaves are long and thin, like swords, measuring about 12 to 20 centimeters (5 to 8 inches) long and 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) wide.
When it's time to flower, stems grow from where the leaves meet the main stem. These flowering stems can be 30 to 55 centimeters (12 to 22 inches) long. Each stem can have between two and twenty flowers! The flowers are usually pink or light purple, with darker purple spots and blotches. They are about 2 to 2.5 centimeters (0.8 to 1 inch) wide.
The flower parts, called sepals and petals, spread out wide. The sepals are about 1.8 to 2.5 centimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) long. The petals are a bit shorter. The most interesting part is the labellum, which is a special lip-like petal. It's also pink or purple and sticks out, measuring about 2 to 2.5 centimeters (0.8 to 1 inch) long. It has a narrow band of fuzzy purple hairs in the middle. You can see these orchids flowering between October and February.
Naming the Leafy Hyacinth Orchid
The scientific name for this orchid, Dipodium ensifolium, was officially given in 1865. A scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller described it after finding a sample on rocky mountains near Rockingham Bay.
The second part of its name, ensifolium, helps describe the plant. It comes from two Latin words: ensis, which means "sword," and folium, which means "leaf." This perfectly describes its sword-shaped leaves!
Where the Leafy Hyacinth Orchid Lives
The leafy hyacinth orchid grows in forests and woodlands. You can find it in a part of Queensland, Australia, that stretches from Cooktown down to Ingham.
These plants can grow long and lanky. But if a fire burns the parts of the plant above the ground, they quickly grow new shoots. This helps them survive in places where bushfires can happen.
How the Leafy Hyacinth Orchid Reproduces
The beautiful flowers of the leafy hyacinth orchid are pollinated by small native bees. These bees visit the flowers, helping the plant make seeds so new orchids can grow.
Growing Leafy Hyacinth Orchids
If you live in a warm place, you can easily grow this orchid in pots. It likes bright light to grow well.
