Coastal sprite orchid facts for kids

The coastal sprite orchid (Liparis simmondsii) is a special type of orchid plant. It belongs to the orchid family. This plant grows only in Queensland, Australia, which means it is endemic to that area. It is a terrestrial plant, so it grows in the ground, not on trees. This orchid has two or three leaves that look like eggs. Its flowers are a deep reddish-purple color, and it has a green part called a column. You can find it growing in rainforests close to the coast.

What the Coastal Sprite Orchid Looks Like

The coastal sprite orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It has two to four stems that curve and get thinner at the end. Each stem is about 60 to 80 millimeters (2.4 to 3.1 inches) long and 7 to 10 millimeters (0.28 to 0.39 inches) wide.

Each stem has two or three leaves that are shaped like eggs. These leaves are about 80 to 120 millimeters (3.1 to 4.7 inches) long and 40 to 60 millimeters (1.6 to 2.4 inches) wide. They have wavy edges and a stalk up to 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) long.

The orchid grows between three and fifteen deep reddish-purple flowers. These flowers are 8 to 12 millimeters (0.31 to 0.47 inches) long and 10 to 15 millimeters (0.39 to 0.59 inches) wide. They grow on a flowering stem that is 150 to 250 millimeters (5.9 to 9.8 inches) long.

• The dorsal sepal (the top part of the flower) is 9 to 11 millimeters (0.35 to 0.43 inches) long and about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) wide.
• The lateral sepals (the side parts) are about the same length but around 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) wide. Their tips are twisted.
• The petals are also similar in length but only about 1 millimeter (0.039 inches) wide.
• The labellum (a special lip-like petal) is 8 to 9 millimeters (0.31 to 0.35 inches) long and 6 to 7 millimeters (0.24 to 0.28 inches) wide. It has a square or rounded tip and points sharply downwards.
• The column (the central part of the flower) is green.

These orchids usually bloom, or flower, between December and February.

How it Got its Name

The coastal sprite orchid, Liparis simmondsii, was first officially described in 1891. A botanist named Frederick Manson Bailey wrote about it in a special publication called the Department of Agriculture Queensland, Botany Bulletin. The second part of its scientific name, simmondsii, was chosen to honor a person named John Howard Simmonds.

Where the Coastal Sprite Orchid Lives

You can find the coastal sprite orchid growing in rainforests along the coast of Queensland. It lives in areas between Fraser Island and Maroochydore.