Yellow sphinx orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow sphinx orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Liparis (plant)
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| Species: |
bracteata
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| Synonyms | |
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The Yellow sphinx orchid (scientific name: Liparis bracteata) is a special kind of plant. It belongs to the amazing orchid family. This orchid grows on trees and rocks in the warm, wet rainforests of tropical North Queensland, Australia. It gets its name from its pale green flowers that turn yellow as they get older.
Contents
What the Yellow Sphinx Orchid Looks Like
The Yellow sphinx orchid is a herb that grows in clumps. It can grow on trees (this is called being an epiphyte) or on rocks (this is called being a lithophyte).
Its Pseudobulbs and Leaves
This orchid has smooth, dark green, cone-shaped parts called pseudobulbs. These pseudobulbs are like storage units for the plant. They are about 30–50 mm (1.2–2.0 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide. When they are young, they are covered with leaf-like parts called bracts.
Each pseudobulb has two dark green leaves. These leaves can be long and narrow (linear) or shaped like a spear (lance-shaped). They are usually 150–250 mm (5.9–9.8 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.
Its Flowers
The Yellow sphinx orchid produces between seven and twelve flowers. These flowers are pale green at first and look like stars. As they get older, they change color and turn yellow. Each flower is about 8–13 mm (0.31–0.51 in) long and 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) wide.
The flowers grow on a stem that is 100–200 mm (3.9–7.9 in) long. This stem can have up to fifteen small bracts on it. The outer parts of the flower, called sepals, are 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The inner parts, called petals, are similar in length but are narrower.
The special lip-shaped petal, called the labellum, is 7–9 mm (0.28–0.35 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide. It has two green bumps, called calli, near its base. It also has two orange ridges running down its middle. This orchid usually blooms between July and September.
How it Got its Name
The Yellow sphinx orchid was first officially described in 1946. A scientist named Trevor Edgar Hunt wrote about it in a publication called the North Queensland Naturalist.
The First Specimen
The very first plant used to describe this species was collected by John Henry Wilkie. He found it on Mount Bartle Frere. This special plant is known as the "type specimen."
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its scientific name, bracteata, comes from a Latin word. The Latin word bractea means "small leaf." This refers to the small, leaf-like bracts found on the plant.
Where the Yellow Sphinx Orchid Lives
The Yellow sphinx orchid grows in the rainforests of Queensland, Australia. You can find it growing on trees and rocks. Its habitat stretches between the Cedar Bay area and the Tully River.
