Magenta autumn orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Magenta autumn orchid |
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| Eriochilus magenteus growing near Paddys River in the A.C.T. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eriochilus
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| Species: |
magenteus
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The magenta autumn orchid (scientific name: Eriochilus magenteus) is a beautiful plant. It belongs to the amazing orchid family. This special orchid only grows in south-eastern Australia.
It is a slender plant that grows on the ground. It has one leaf and one or two small flowers. These flowers are a bright pink or magenta color. You can find this orchid in higher areas of the Australian Capital Territory, southern New South Wales, and north-eastern Victoria.
What Does It Look Like?
The magenta autumn orchid is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It is also a deciduous herb. This means its leaves fall off at certain times of the year. It grows from an underground part called a tuber.
The plant has one shiny green leaf. It is shaped like an egg and is smooth. The leaf is usually not fully grown until after the flowers appear. When it is fully grown, the leaf is about 1.5 to 3.5 centimeters (0.6 to 1.4 inches) long. It is also about 0.7 to 1.2 centimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) wide.
One or two bright pink or magenta flowers grow on a thin stem. This stem can be 10 to 25 centimeters (4 to 10 inches) tall. The top part of the flower, called the sepal, is spoon-shaped. It is about 0.5 to 0.8 centimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. The side sepals are also 0.5 to 0.8 centimeters long. They turn downwards and away from each other.
The petals are pink and thin. They are about 0.6 to 0.7 centimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. They stand upright near the center part of the flower, called the column. The labellum is a special lip-like petal. It is green or yellowish near its base and pinkish at the tip. It has three parts, and the middle part is egg-shaped. It is about 0.2 to 0.3 centimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) wide. This middle part has small groups of reddish bristles.
You can usually see these beautiful orchids flowering from December to March.
How Was It Named?
The magenta autumn orchid was first officially described in 2008. A botanist named David Jones gave it its scientific name, Eriochilus magenteus. He published his description in a special magazine called The Orchadian.
Where Does It Grow?
The magenta autumn orchid likes to grow in moist soil. You can find it in high-up areas called alpine meadows. These meadows often have grasses and sedges (grass-like plants). Sometimes, it grows near swamps and streams.
This orchid is found in the Australian Capital Territory. It also grows in southern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria.
Images for kids
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The way the Magenta autumn orchid grows.
