Native jade orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Native jade orchid |
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|---|---|
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| Goodyera umbrosa near Mount Lewis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Goodyera
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| Species: |
umbrosa
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| Synonyms | |
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Eucosia umbrosa D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Goodyera umbrosa, also known as the native jade orchid or green jewel orchid, is a special type of orchid. It is found only in northern Queensland, Australia. This orchid grows in cool, wet highland rainforests.
It has about four to eight large, egg-shaped leaves. Its small flowers are pale green or pinkish. The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, and the petals form a small hood. This hood covers the central part of the flower, known as the column.
What Does It Look Like?
The native jade orchid is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows from a tuber, which is like a small underground storage part. This plant is a herb, so it has soft stems, not woody ones.
It has a loose group of four to eight shiny, bright green leaves. These leaves are wavy and shaped like an egg. They are about 3 to 8 centimeters (1.2 to 3.1 inches) long and 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) wide.
The orchid produces a fleshy flowering stem that stands about 20 to 30 centimeters (7.9 to 11.8 inches) tall. On this stem, you can find three to ten flowers. These flowers are pale green to pinkish and measure about 8 to 12 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long and 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide.
The dorsal sepal, which is the top part of the flower, is about 7 to 9 millimeters (0.28 to 0.35 inches) long and 3.5 millimeters (0.14 inches) wide. It overlaps the petals, creating a hood over the column. The side sepals and petals are similar in size. The side sepals spread downwards.
The labellum is a special lip-like petal. On this orchid, it is hairy and broadly egg-shaped. It is about 7 to 8 millimeters (0.28 to 0.31 inches) long and 7 millimeters (0.28 inches) wide, with a deep pouch. This orchid usually flowers between June and August.
How It Was Named
The native jade orchid was first officially described in 2004. Two botanists, David Jones and Mark Clements, gave it the name Eucosia umbrosa. They published their description in a magazine called The Orchadian.
Later, in 2014, another botanist named Julian Shaw changed its name to Goodyera umbrosa. The second part of its scientific name, umbrosa, comes from a Latin word. It means "shaded," which likely refers to where this orchid likes to grow.
Where It Lives
The Goodyera umbrosa orchid typically grows in rainforests. You can find it in leaf litter on the forest floor or in cracks in rocks. Its habitat stretches from Mount Finnigan, which is in Cedar Bay National Park, all the way to Mount Fox, near Ingham.
Images for kids
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Cluster of flowering Goodyera umbrosa.
