Pale dismal orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pale dismal orchid |
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| Illustration by Lewis Roberts | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Micropera
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| Species: |
fasciculata
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The Micropera fasciculata, often called the pale dismal orchid, is a special type of orchid. It can grow on other plants like trees without harming them (this is called epiphytic). It can also grow on rocks (this is called lithophytic). This orchid forms big, messy groups with thin, strong stems.
It has tough, leathery leaves. Its flowering stems grow between ten and twenty cream-coloured flowers. Each flower has a white "labellum," which is a special lip-shaped petal. You can find this orchid in places like New Guinea, Queensland in Australia, the Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia.
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Discovering the Pale Dismal Orchid
This orchid is known for its unique way of growing. It can live on trees or rocks. It forms large, tangled groups. Its roots are thick, and its stems are thin and strong. These stems can grow quite long, from about 30 to 120 centimeters (about 1 to 4 feet).
What the Orchid Looks Like
The pale dismal orchid has between five and twenty stiff, leathery leaves. These leaves are shaped like oblongs. They are about 80 to 150 millimeters (about 3 to 6 inches) long. They are also about 20 to 30 millimeters (about 0.8 to 1.2 inches) wide. The leaves grow along the top half of the stems.
The flowers are very pretty and smell nice. Ten to twenty cream-coloured flowers grow on special flowering stems. These stems are about 120 to 250 millimeters (about 5 to 10 inches) long. Each flower is about 27 to 30 millimeters (about 1.1 to 1.2 inches) long. They are also about 12 to 15 millimeters (about 0.5 to 0.6 inches) wide.
The top petal, called the dorsal sepal, is about 9 millimeters long. The side petals, called lateral sepals, are about 7 millimeters long. They curve behind the labellum. The other petals are similar in size to the side sepals. The labellum is white and stands upright. It is about 9 millimeters long and has three parts. The side parts are triangular. The middle part curves downwards and has a deep, pouch-like shape. This orchid usually blooms from March to June.
Naming the Pale Dismal Orchid
The pale dismal orchid was first officially described in 1843. A scientist named John Lindley gave it the name Saccolobium fasciculatum. He wrote about it in a science journal called London Journal of Botany.
Later, in 1972, another scientist named Leslie Andrew Garay changed its name. He renamed it Micropera fasciculata, which is the name it still has today.
Where the Orchid Grows
The Micropera fasciculata orchid grows in warm, wet rainforests. It forms large groups on trees and rocks. You can find it in several places around the world.
It grows in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia. In Australia, it is found in the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. Its range goes as far south as the city of Townsville.
