Montane helmet orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Montane helmet orchid |
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The Montane Helmet Orchid (scientific name: Corybas montanus) is a special type of orchid that grows only in Queensland, Australia. It is found only in the Mount Barney National Park in the south-east part of Queensland.
This orchid grows in small groups. It has one leaf that looks like a heart or is almost round. Its flower is reddish and can pollinate itself, which means it doesn't need insects to help it make seeds. The flower has a curved part called a dorsal sepal.
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What the Montane Helmet Orchid Looks Like
The Montane Helmet Orchid is a ground-dwelling plant. This means it grows in the soil, not on other plants. It is also a perennial plant, so it lives for more than two years. It is a deciduous plant, which means its leaves fall off at certain times of the year.
This orchid has one leaf that is shaped like a heart or is nearly round. The leaf is about 22 to 38 millimeters (0.9 to 1.5 inches) long and 17 to 30 millimeters (0.7 to 1.2 inches) wide. The top of the leaf is bluish-green with whitish lines, and the bottom is shiny greenish-purple.
The flower is reddish or reddish-purple and hangs downwards. It is about 12 to 14 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, is curved and shaped like a dish. It is about 11 to 12.5 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long.
The other parts of the flower, called the lateral sepals and petals, are thin and about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. They curve around the main lip of the flower. This main lip, called the labellum, is reddish and forms a tube. It is about 13 to 14 millimeters (0.5 inches) long and 15 millimeters (0.6 inches) wide. It has shiny dark red bumps called calli in its center.
These orchids usually bloom, or flower, in June and July.
How the Orchid Got Its Name
The Montane Helmet Orchid, Corybas montanus, was first officially described in 1988. A botanist named D.L.Jones wrote about it after finding a sample on Mount Maroon. His description was published in a science journal called Austrobaileya.
The second part of its scientific name, montanus, comes from a Latin word. "Montanus" means "of mountains." This name was chosen because this orchid lives in mountain areas.
Where the Orchid Lives
The Montane Helmet Orchid grows on the slopes of Mount Maroon. It prefers to live in open forests. This orchid is special because it is "self-pollinating." This means it can make its own seeds without needing help from insects or other plants.
Protecting the Montane Helmet Orchid
The Montane Helmet Orchid is considered "vulnerable" by the Australian Government. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered or disappearing if we don't protect it. This classification is under a law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
One of the biggest dangers to this orchid is people illegally collecting it. This means taking the plants from their natural home without permission, which can harm the wild population.
