Northern tom cats facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern tom cats |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Liparis (plant)
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| Species: |
swenssonii
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The northern tom cats (scientific name: Liparis swenssonii) is a special kind of plant. It belongs to the orchid family. You can only find it in far eastern Australia. This orchid often grows on rocks, which makes it a 'lithophytic' plant. It has one or two leaves. It can also have many greenish flowers that smell quite strong. You'll usually find it in moist forests.
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About Northern Tom Cats
The northern tom cats orchid is a rock-growing plant. Sometimes, it can also grow in soil, making it a land plant. It has oval-shaped parts called pseudobulbs. These are like swollen stems that store water and nutrients. They are about 2 to 4 centimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) long.
This plant usually has one or two leaves. The leaves are long and narrow, like a spear. They can be 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) long. They are also folded lengthwise.
Flowers and Scent
The northern tom cats orchid produces many flowers. There can be anywhere from five to over thirty flowers on one stem. These flowers are greenish in color. They are about 7 to 9 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. They also have a strong, sometimes unpleasant, smell.
The flowers have parts called sepals and petals. The sepals are about 7 to 9 millimeters long. The petals are a bit shorter and narrower. Both the sepals and petals spread wide open. The special lip-shaped petal, called the labellum, is about 6 to 8 millimeters long. It has two orange or yellow lines along its middle. It also has a deep groove at its base. This orchid blooms between February and July.
Where Northern Tom Cats Live
Northern tom cats orchids grow on rocks. Sometimes, they grow in rocky soil. You can find them in rainforests or moist open forests. They live in coastal areas. These areas are between the Clarence River in New South Wales and Gympie in Queensland.
How Northern Tom Cats Got Its Name
The scientific name Liparis swenssonii was first officially described in 1906. A scientist named Frederick Manson Bailey wrote about it. His description was published in a special botany bulletin. The plant was named after Carl Swensson, who collected the first sample of this orchid.
