South coast mignonette orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South coast mignonette orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Microtis (plant)
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| Species: |
quadrata
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The south coast mignonette orchid (scientific name: Microtis quadrata) is a special type of orchid. It's also called the south coast onion orchid. This plant only grows in the south-west coastal areas of Western Australia. It has a single, thin leaf that looks like an onion. It can grow up to one hundred small, pale green flowers. You can find this onion orchid growing on small hills in swampy areas. It often grows near other mignonette orchids. After a fire, this orchid flowers much more!
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About the South Coast Mignonette Orchid
The south coast mignonette orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It lives for many years, even though its leaves might die back sometimes. It has a special underground part called a tuber, which is like a storage root. From this tuber, a single, smooth, hollow leaf grows straight up. This leaf can be about 25 to 70 centimeters (10 to 28 inches) long and 3 to 8 millimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) wide.
Flowers of the Orchid
This orchid has many small, pale yellowish-green flowers. There can be anywhere from twenty to one hundred flowers packed together on a stem. This stem can grow from 20 to 80 centimeters (8 to 31 inches) tall. Each flower is about 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.14 inches) long and 2.5 to 3 millimeters (0.1 to 0.12 inches) wide.
The top part of the flower, called the sepal, is like a small hood. It covers the rest of the flower. The side sepals curl downwards. The petals are small and are held under the top sepal. The special lower petal, called the labellum, looks like a small rectangle. It points downwards, almost touching the part of the flower that holds the seeds. These orchids usually flower from December to January. They produce many more flowers if there was a fire the summer before.
Naming the Orchid
The south coast mignonette orchid was first officially described in 1990. A scientist named Robert Bates found a sample of it in a swamp near Nornalup. He first named it Microtis media subsp. quadrata. Later, in 2004, two other scientists, David Jones and Mark Clements, changed its name to Microtis quadrata. The second part of its name, quadrata, is a Latin word. It means "four-cornered," and it describes the shape of the orchid's labellum.
Where the Orchid Lives
You can find Microtis quadrata growing in areas that get wet during certain times of the year. It also grows on swampy mounds near the coast. These areas are located between the cities of Perth and Augusta in Western Australia. It's common to see this orchid growing alongside other types of Microtis orchids.
Protecting the Orchid
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of special plants. They have classified Microtis quadrata as "Priority Four". This means the orchid is rare or is close to becoming threatened. It needs our help to stay safe and healthy in its natural home.
