Norfolk Island orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Norfolk Island orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dendrobium
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| Species: |
brachypus
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| Synonyms | |
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The Norfolk Island orchid (scientific name: Dendrobium brachypus) is a special kind of orchid. It's also known as the dwarf cane orchid. This plant grows on trees or rocks. It is an epiphyte (meaning it grows on other plants, like trees) or a lithophyte (meaning it grows on rocks). You can only find this rare orchid on one mountain on Norfolk Island.
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What Does It Look Like?
The Norfolk Island orchid has crowded, yellowish-green stems called pseudobulbs. These pseudobulbs are like swollen stems that store water. They are about 5 to 50 millimeters (0.2 to 2 inches) long. Each pseudobulb has two to four dark green leaves. The leaves are shaped like eggs or ovals. They are about 7 to 20 millimeters (0.3 to 0.8 inches) long.
Flowers and Blooming
This orchid produces two or three flowers on short stems. The flowers are usually cream-coloured, whitish, or greenish. They are small, about 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and wide. These flowers often do not open fully. The parts of the flower include sepals and petals. The sepals are about 4 millimeters long. The petals are similar in length but narrower.
The orchid also has a special lip part called a labellum. This labellum is about 4 millimeters long. It does not have any lobes or divisions. This orchid can self-pollinate. This means it can make seeds by itself. It usually flowers between August and October.
How It Got Its Name
The Norfolk Island orchid was first officially described in 1833. A scientist named Stephan Endlicher gave it the name Thelychiton brachypus. He wrote about it in a book called Prodromus Florae Norfolkicae.
Changing Names
Later, in 1877, another scientist named Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach changed its name. He renamed it Dendrobium brachypus. The second part of its scientific name, brachypus, comes from ancient Greek words. "Brachys" means "short" and "pous" means "foot". This name refers to the orchid's short pseudobulbs. It helps to tell it apart from another orchid, Dendrobium macropus, which has longer pseudobulbs.
Where Does It Live?
The Norfolk Island orchid is endemic to Norfolk Island. This means it is found only there and nowhere else in the world. Norfolk Island is an Australian territory. It is located in the Tasman Sea. This orchid grows on rocks and trees. You can find it in the forests on the slopes of Mount Pitt.
Protecting This Orchid
This orchid is very rare. It is listed as an endangered plant. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. It is protected under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This law helps to protect plants and animals that are in danger.
