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Velvet orchid facts for kids

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Velvet orchid
LR049 72dpi Luisia teretifolia.jpg
Illustration by Lewis Roberts
Scientific classification
Genus:
Luisia
Species:
tristis
Synonyms
  • Epidendrum triste G.Forst.
  • Luisia teretifolia Gaudich.
  • Trichorhiza teretifolia (Gaudich.) Lindl. ex Steud.
  • Luisia burmanica Lindl.
  • Luisia valida Rchb.f.
  • Luisia platyglossa Rchb.f.
  • Luisia beccarii Rchb.f.
  • Luisia macrocarpa Schltr.
  • Luisia truncata Blatt. & McCann
  • Luisia cordata Fukuy.
  • Luisia atacta D.L.Jones
  • Luisia corrugata D.L.Jones

The velvet orchid (scientific name: Luisia tristis) is a special type of orchid. It often grows on other plants or rocks, not in the soil. These orchids have thin, wire-like stems that can form messy clumps.

They have round leaves and small green flowers. The most interesting part is the flower's lip, called a labellum. It is usually a dark red or deep maroon color. You can find this orchid in warm, tropical parts of Asia, New Guinea, Australia, and some islands in the Western Pacific Ocean.

What the Velvet Orchid Looks Like

The velvet orchid is a type of herb. It can grow on other plants (this is called epiphytic) or on rocks (this is called lithophytic). It often forms tangled clumps.

This orchid has thick, flat roots. Its stems are thin and wire-like, growing about 100–400 millimetres (3.9–16 in) long and 1–3 millimetres (0.039–0.12 in) wide.

Each stem has between two and ten stiff, round leaves. These leaves are about 50–200 millimetres (2.0–7.9 in) long and 4–5 millimetres (0.16–0.20 in) wide. They are spaced out along the stem, about 12–35 millimetres (0.47–1.4 in) apart.

The flowers grow on short stems from where the leaves meet the main stem. Each flowering stem can have up to three star-shaped flowers. These flowers are green and about 7–8 millimetres (0.28–0.31 in) long and 9–11 millimetres (0.35–0.43 in) wide.

The sepals (which look like petals) are about 6 millimetres (0.24 in) long. The actual petals are a little longer but thinner. The most striking part is the labellum, or lip, which is dark red to dark maroon. It is about 7 millimetres (0.28 in) long and wide and has three fleshy parts.

The orchid usually blooms between November and April.

How the Velvet Orchid Got its Name

The velvet orchid was first officially described in 1786. A scientist named Georg Forster gave it the name Epidendrum triste. He wrote about it in his book Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus.

Later, in 1890, another scientist named Joseph Dalton Hooker changed its name to Luisia tristis.

The second part of its scientific name, tristis, comes from a Latin word. It means "sad."

Where the Velvet Orchid Lives

The velvet orchid likes to grow on trees with rough bark. It prefers rainforests where there is plenty of light.

You can find this orchid in many places around the world. These include:

In Australia, it grows in the Northern Territory, including Melville Island. It is also found on some Torres Strait Islands and the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. It grows as far south as the Daintree River.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Luisia tristis para niños

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