Tapered sphinx orchid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tapered sphinx orchid
Liparis condylobulbon in the Osaka Prefectural Flowers Garden
Scientific classification
Genus:	Liparis (plant)
Species:	condylobulbon
Synonyms
Synonyms Leptorkis condylobulbon (Rchb.f.) Kuntze Cestichis condylobulbon (Rchb.f.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones Stichorkis condylobulbon (Rchb.f.) Marg., Szlach. & Kulak Liparis nesophila Rchb.f. Gyrostachys nesophila (Rchb.f.) Kuntze Liparis confusa J.J.Sm. Liparis confusa var. amboinensis J.J.Sm. Cestichis vestita Ames Cestichis clemensiae Ames Liparis savaiiensis H.Fleischm. & Rech. Liparis persimilis Schltr. Liparis amboinensis (J.J.Sm.) J.J.Sm. Liparis dolichopoda Hayata Liparis clemensiae (Ames) Ames Liparis confusa var. latifolia J.J.Sm. Liparis treubii J.J.Sm. Cestichis persimilis (Schltr.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones Stichorkis persimilis (Schltr.) Marg., Szlach. & Kulak

The tapered sphinx orchid (Liparis condylobulbon) is a beautiful plant. It belongs to the amazing orchid family. This orchid is also known by its Chinese name, xi jing yang er suan.

This special orchid often grows on other plants or rocks. It has shiny green, cylinder-shaped parts called pseudobulbs. Each pseudobulb has two long, thin leaves. The plant produces many pale green or cream-colored flowers. These flowers have a bright orange lip, which is called a labellum. You can find this orchid growing in rainforests. Its home stretches from Taiwan and Indochina to the south-west Pacific.

What the Tapered Sphinx Orchid Looks Like

The tapered sphinx orchid is a herb that grows in clumps. It can grow on trees (this is called epiphytic) or on rocks (this is called lithophytic). Its pseudobulbs are shiny green and shaped like cylinders. They are about 8 to 15 centimeters (3 to 6 inches) long.

Each pseudobulb has two thin leaves. These leaves are shaped like a spear or a narrow line. They can be 8 to 20 centimeters (3 to 8 inches) long. The plant produces a stiff stem that holds its flowers. This stem is about 7 to 15 centimeters (3 to 6 inches) long.

Each stem can have between 15 and 35 flowers. The flowers are small, about 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters (0.14 to 0.18 inches) long. They are pale green or cream-colored. The sepals (outer parts of the flower) are about 2.5 to 3 millimeters long. The petals are similar in length but thinner. The most striking part is the orange labellum. It is about 3 millimeters long and has a notched tip. These orchids usually bloom between December and August.

How the Orchid Got Its Name

The scientific name for this orchid is Liparis condylobulbon. It was first officially described in 1862. A scientist named Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach gave it this name. He wrote about it in a publication called Hamburger Garten- und Blumenzeitung.

Where the Tapered Sphinx Orchid Lives

The tapered sphinx orchid loves to grow in rainforests. It can be found on trees and rocks. This orchid lives in many places around the world.

You can find it in:

• Taiwan
• Myanmar
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Borneo
• Java
• The Lesser Sunda Islands
• The Maluku Islands
• The Philippines
• Sulawesi
• Sumatra
• New Guinea
• The Solomon Islands
• Queensland, Australia (especially in the Iron and McIlwraith Ranges)
• Fiji
• New Caledonia
• Samoa
• Vanuatu
• The Santa Cruz Islands
• The Wallis and Futuna Islands

See also

In Spanish: Liparis condylobulbon para niños