Common tangle orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common tangle orchid |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Plectorrhiza tridenta growing near Nowra | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
The Plectorrhiza tridentata, commonly known as the common tangle orchid, is a special type of orchid. Unlike many plants, it doesn't grow in soil. Instead, it often grows on trees (this is called being an epiphyte) or on rocks (this is called being a lithophyte).
This orchid gets its name "tangle" because it has many thick, tangled roots that hang down. It also has up to twenty egg-shaped leaves and up to fifteen star-shaped flowers. These flowers are usually green or brown and have a white "lip" (called a labellum). You can find the common tangle orchid growing on rainforest trees and in other damp places. It lives in Australia, from the Daintree National Park in Queensland all the way down to the far north-eastern part of Victoria.
What Does the Common Tangle Orchid Look Like?
The common tangle orchid is a herb that grows on trees or rocks. It has a single main stem, which can be about 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) long. This stem hangs down, held in place by its many tangled roots that grow in the air.
This orchid usually has between three and twenty leaves. They are green to purplish in color, feel leathery, and are shaped like a narrow egg. Each leaf is about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long and 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide.
The orchid produces between three and fifteen flowers. These flowers are green or brown and are about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. They grow on a stem that hangs down, which can be 5 to 12 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) long. The different parts of the flower, like the sepals and petals, are separate and spread out wide.
The main "lip" of the flower, called the labellum, is white with a green patch. It's about 6 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. This lip has three parts, or lobes. The two side lobes are shaped like triangles and curve outwards. The middle lobe is blunt and has a small curved spur, about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long. You can usually see these orchids flowering from September to January.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The common tangle orchid was first officially described in 1838 by a person named John Lindley. He gave it the scientific name Cleisostoma tridentatum. Later, in 1967, Alick Dockrill changed its name to Plectorrhiza tridentata.
The second part of its scientific name, tridentata, comes from a Latin word, tridens. This word means "a fork with three prongs." This likely refers to a specific feature of the orchid's flower.
Where Does This Orchid Live?
The Plectorrhiza tridentata usually grows on trees in very damp places. These places include deep, narrow valleys (gullies) and swampy areas. You can find it in Australia, starting from the Daintree area in Queensland. From there, it spreads south along the coast and nearby mountain ranges of New South Wales. It even reaches the rainforests east of the Snowy River in the far north-eastern part of Victoria.
