Southern green fairy orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern green fairy orchid |
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| Illustration by Lewis Roberts | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Oberonia
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| Species: |
complanata
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The southern green fairy orchid (scientific name: Oberonia complanata) is a special plant. It's also called the yellow-flowered king of the fairies. This orchid belongs to the orchid family. It grows in clumps and lives on other plants or rocks. This type of plant is called an epiphyte.
Each plant has three to eight leaves that look like a fan. It can grow up to 300 tiny flowers. These flowers are cream-coloured or greenish. They grow in circles, called whorls, around the stem. This orchid is found only in eastern Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
Contents
What the Southern Green Fairy Orchid Looks Like
The Oberonia complanata is a plant that grows in clumps. It is an epiphyte, meaning it grows on other plants or rocks. Each part of the plant has three to eight leaves. These leaves are thick and yellowish-green. They are shaped like a spear or oblong.
The leaves are about 80 to 150 mm (3 to 6 in) long. They are about 15 mm (0.6 in) wide. Their bases overlap each other. The plant has a stem that arches over. This stem is about 100 to 200 mm (4 to 8 in) long.
On this stem, there are 150 to 300 small flowers. They are cream-coloured or greenish. Each flower is about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long. They are about 1.0 mm (0.04 in) wide. The flowers grow in circles around the stem.
The sepals and petals of the flower are egg-shaped or triangular. They spread out wide. They are about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long. The labellum is a special part of the orchid flower. It is green and about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long and wide. It has three small lobes, and the middle one has a small notch. This orchid usually flowers between February and July.
How the Orchid Got Its Name
The southern green fairy orchid was first described in 1839. A botanist named Allan Cunningham gave it a scientific name. He called it Dendrobium complanatum. He wrote about it in a book called Edwards's Botanical Register.
Later, in 1989, two other botanists changed its name. They were Mark Clements and David Jones. They renamed it Oberonia complanata. The second part of its name, complanata, is a Latin word. It means "flattened".
Where the Orchid Lives
The Oberonia complanata orchid grows in rainforests. It can be found on trees and rocks. Its habitat stretches from Gympie in Queensland down to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales.
Protecting the Southern Green Fairy Orchid
This orchid is in danger. In New South Wales, it is listed as "endangered". This means it is at high risk of disappearing. This classification is under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
Recently, this orchid has been seen in the Lismore area. It has also been spotted near Mount Warning. However, it has not been seen near Coffs Harbour since 1961.
The main reasons this orchid is in danger are:
- Land clearing: Forests where it lives are being cut down.
- Habitat damage: The places it grows are becoming unhealthy.
- Illegal collecting: Some people take the orchids from the wild without permission.
See also
In Spanish: Oberonia complanata para niños
