Microtis media subsp. media facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common mignonette orchid |
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| Microtis media subsp. media growing in Kings Park | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Microtis |
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M. m. subsp. media
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| Trinomial name | |
| Microtis media subsp. media |
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The common mignonette orchid (scientific name: Microtis media subsp. media) is a special type of orchid that only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's quite common and can be found in many places. This orchid has a single smooth, tube-shaped leaf. It also grows a tall stem with many small green flowers, sometimes up to one hundred! This orchid is different from its close relative, Microtis media subsp. densiflora, because of the shape of its flower stem and a part of its flower called the labellum.
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What Does the Common Mignonette Orchid Look Like?
The common mignonette orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so some parts might die back in certain seasons. It has one straight, smooth, tube-shaped leaf that can be about 250 to 650 mm (10 to 26 inches) long and 3 to 8 mm (0.1 to 0.3 inches) wide.
The plant produces a tall, fleshy flower stem called a raceme. On this stem, you can find between twenty and one hundred small flowers. These flowers are usually greenish-yellow and are about 3 mm (0.1 inches) long and wide.
Each flower has different parts:
- The dorsal sepal (the top part) is about 3 mm long.
- The petals are slightly shorter and form a hood over the column (the central part of the flower).
- The lateral sepals (the side parts) are about 1 mm wide and curl downwards.
- The labellum is a special lip-like part of the flower. It has a notched tip and thick edges with tiny teeth. At the base of the labellum, there are two comma-shaped bumps called calli.
You can see these orchids flowering from September to January.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The common mignonette orchid was first officially described by a botanist named Robert Brown in 1810. He wrote about it in his book, Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.
Later, in 1990, another botanist named Robert Bates described three different types, or subspecies, of Microtis media. These were subspecies media, densiflora, and quadrata. However, the quadrata type is now considered a separate species entirely.
The name media comes from a Latin word, medius, which means "middle" or "intermediate". This name was chosen because the flower's structure is somewhere in between other similar plants.
Where Does It Live?
The common mignonette orchid can be found in many places across Western Australia. Its range stretches from Shark Bay all the way to the Eyre Bird Observatory. It's a very adaptable plant and grows in different environments. You can find it in forests or even in small patches of soil on rocky granite outcrops.
Is It Protected?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the common mignonette orchid. They have classified Microtis media subsp. media as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
