Small onion orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Small onion orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Microtis (plant)
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| Species: |
oligantha
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The small onion orchid, also known as Microtis oligantha, is a special type of orchid found only in New Zealand. This plant has a single thin leaf that looks a bit like an onion. It grows up to ten small green flowers.
This orchid is smaller than other onion orchids in New Zealand, like M. unifolia and M. parviflora. It also has a more pointed top petal (called a dorsal sepal) on its flowers.
What Does It Look Like?
The small onion orchid is a plant that grows in the ground. It has a special underground part called a tuber, which helps it store food. Each plant grows one straight, smooth, hollow leaf that can be up to 200 mm (about 8 inches) long.
The plant produces between one and ten small flowers. These flowers are green or yellowish-green and are about 3 mm (0.1 inches) long. They grow along a flowering stem that can be up to 30 mm (1.2 inches) tall.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, is shaped like an egg and is about 2.5 mm (0.1 inches) long. It forms a small hood over the other parts. The side sepals are shorter and curve downwards. The petals are even shorter and are mostly hidden by the top sepal. The bottom lip of the flower, called the labellum, is about 2 mm (0.08 inches) long and also curves downwards. You can see these orchids flowering from December to March.
Where Does It Grow?
The small onion orchid likes to grow in wet grasslands and meadows. You can find it in the mountain and subalpine areas of New Zealand. This includes the North Island, the South Island, and even the Chatham Islands.
How Was It Named?
The small onion orchid, Microtis oligantha, was officially described in 1968. A botanist named Lucy Moore was the first to describe it. She found a sample of the plant near Lake Roundabout, which is east of Ashburton.
The scientific name oligantha comes from two old Greek words:
- Oligos means "few" or "little".
- Anthos means "flower".
So, oligantha means "few flowers," which describes this small orchid well!
Conservation Status
Good news! The small onion orchid is currently considered "not threatened" in New Zealand. This means it is not in danger of disappearing.
