Mossman fairy orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mossman fairy orchid |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Oberonia |
| Species: |
O. attenuata
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| Binomial name | |
| Oberonia attenuata Dockrill
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The Oberonia attenuata, also called the Mossman fairy orchid, is a special plant. It belongs to the orchid family. This orchid is a small epiphyte, which means it grows on other plants, like trees, but does not harm them.
It has four to seven leaves that look like a fan. These leaves are dark green and hang down. The orchid also has many tiny reddish-brown flowers. These flowers grow on a stem that hangs down too. The Mossman fairy orchid is only found in Mossman Gorge. Scientists first described it in 1960. After that, no one saw it for a long time. People thought it had disappeared forever until it was found again in 2015!
Contents
What Does the Mossman Fairy Orchid Look Like?
The Mossman fairy orchid is a plant that grows on other plants. It has thin, dark green leaves. There are usually four to seven leaves. They are about 8 to 15 centimeters (3 to 6 inches) long. The leaves hang down and have sharp tips. Their bases overlap each other.
Many small, pale reddish-brown flowers grow on a hanging stem. Each flower is about 1.6 millimeters (0.06 inches) wide. The flower stem can be 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) long. Tiny, thread-like leaves called bracts grow in circles around the stem.
The flower parts, called sepals and petals, spread out wide. The special lower petal, called the labellum, is about 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) long and wide. It has three parts, or lobes. The two side lobes spread out. The middle lobe points downwards. These orchids usually bloom between May and September.
How the Mossman Fairy Orchid Got Its Name
The Mossman fairy orchid was first officially described in 1960. A scientist named Alick Dockrill wrote about it. He found the plant near the Mossman River. He published his description in a magazine called The North Queensland Naturalist.
The second part of its scientific name, attenuata, is a Latin word. It means "drawn out," "tapered," "weakened," or "thin." This name likely refers to the orchid's thin leaves or hanging flower stem.
Where the Mossman Fairy Orchid Lives
The Mossman fairy orchid grows on rainforest trees. It likes to be near water, like a stream or river. This orchid is only known to live near the Mossman Gorge in Queensland, Australia.
For many years, no one saw this orchid after it was first found. People thought it was gone forever. But then, in 2015, another plant was discovered! This was very exciting news for scientists.
Protecting the Mossman Fairy Orchid
This special orchid was once thought to be "extinct." This means people believed it had completely disappeared from the world. But after it was found again in 2015, its status changed.
Now, the Australian Government lists it as "critically endangered." This is the highest level of danger for a species. It means the orchid is at a very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild. The Queensland Government also lists it as "endangered." This shows how important it is to protect this rare and beautiful plant.
