Slender sphinx orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slender sphinx orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Liparis (plant)
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| Species: |
fleckeri
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The Liparis fleckeri, also called the slender sphinx orchid, is a unique plant. It belongs to the orchid family. This orchid is found only in Queensland, Australia. It grows on other plants or rocks, not in the soil. It has two thin leaves and pretty pale green or whitish flowers. You can find it in rainforests high up in tropical far North Queensland.
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What Does the Slender Sphinx Orchid Look Like?
The slender sphinx orchid is a plant that grows on trees or rocks. It has thick, dark green parts called pseudobulbs. These pseudobulbs are like small, round stems that store water and nutrients. They are about 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long and 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide.
This orchid has two thin, dark green leaves. They are shaped like a spear and are about 15–35 mm (0.6–1 in) long. The leaves are only about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide.
Its Flowers
The slender sphinx orchid produces between five and twenty flowers. These flowers are pale green or whitish. Each flower is about 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide. They grow on a stem that arches over, which can be 150–250 mm (6–10 in) long.
The flower has parts called sepals and petals. The sepals are about 8–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The petals are about the same length but much thinner, only 0.2 mm (0.008 in) wide. Both the sepals and petals are pointy and curve downwards.
The orchid also has a special lip-shaped petal called the labellum. This labellum is about 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. It has two orange bumps called calli. These orchids usually bloom between May and August.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The slender sphinx orchid was first officially described in 1938. A scientist named William Henry Nicholls wrote about it. He used a sample of the plant that Hugo Flecker had collected. Hugo Flecker found it on Mount Bellenden Ker.
The description was published in a magazine called The North Queensland Naturalist. The second part of its scientific name, fleckeri, was chosen to honor Hugo Flecker.
Where Does It Live?
This orchid, sometimes called the mountain sprite orchid, lives in rainforests. It grows on rocks and trees. You can find it at high altitudes, between 900 and 1,600 m (3,000 and 5,000 ft) above sea level. Its home stretches from Cedar Bay National Park all the way to Tully in Queensland.
