Branched bladder orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Branched bladder orchid |
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| Illustration by Lewis Roberts | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pomatocalpa
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| Species: |
marsupiale
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The branched bladder orchid (Pomatocalpa marsupiale) is a special type of orchid. It often grows on other plants, like trees, without harming them. This is called being an epiphyte. Sometimes, it can also grow on rocks, which means it's a lithophyte. These orchids can grow into large groups.
This orchid has many thick roots and stems that branch out. It has lots of long, strap-like leaves that feel a bit leathery. Its flowers are green and face upwards. They have a cream or yellowish labellum, which is a special lip-like petal. You can usually find this orchid growing high up on trees in rainforests. It lives in places like Sulawesi and tropical North Queensland in Australia.
What Does It Look Like?
The branched bladder orchid is a herb, meaning it's a plant without a woody stem above ground. It forms big clumps. Its main stem can be about 20 to 50 centimeters (8 to 20 inches) long and has thick roots.
It has many leaves that are yellowish-green and feel leathery. These leaves are about 15 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) long and 4 to 5 centimeters (1.5 to 2 inches) wide. The bases of the leaves hide the stem.
Each branch of the flowering stem can be 20 to 45 centimeters (8 to 18 inches) long. It holds about 15 to 20 green flowers. Each flower is about 1.2 to 1.5 centimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long and wide. The sepals (outer parts of the flower) and petals (inner parts) spread out wide. The sepals are about 6 to 8 millimeters long, and the petals are about 5 to 6 millimeters long.
The labellum (the orchid's special lip) is cream-colored or yellowish. It is about 4 to 5 millimeters long and 3 to 4 millimeters wide. This labellum has three parts, called lobes. The side lobes curve forward. The middle lobe is short, thick, and fleshy. It has a pear-shaped spur (a hollow part) that is about 4 millimeters long. These orchids usually bloom from November to May.
The branched bladder orchid is different from another Australian orchid called the blotched bladder orchid (P. macphersonii). It has taller, upright stems, bigger leaves, flowers that grow closer together, different flower colors, and blooms at a different time of year.
How It Got Its Name
The branched bladder orchid was first officially described in 1889. A scientist named Friedrich Kraenzlin gave it the name Cleisostoma marsupiale. Later, in 1912, another scientist named Johannes Jacobus Smith changed its name to Pomatocalpa marsupiale.
The second part of its scientific name, marsupiale, comes from a Latin word, marsupium. This word means "pouch," "bag," or "purse." This name likely refers to the shape of a part of the orchid's flower.
Where It Lives
The branched bladder orchid usually grows on tall trees in open areas of rainforests. You can find it in places like Malesia, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and in Queensland, Australia. In Queensland, it grows on the Iron and McIlwraith Ranges. It is found at heights between 400 and 600 meters (about 1,300 to 2,000 feet) above sea level.
