Pouched spur orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pouched spur orchid |
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| Illustration of Crepidium marsupichilum by Lewis Roberts | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Crepidium
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| Species: |
marsupichilum
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The pouched spur orchid (scientific name: Crepidium marsupichilum) is a special type of plant. It belongs to the orchid family. This orchid only grows in tropical far north Queensland, Australia. It is an evergreen plant, meaning its leaves stay green all year. It grows on the ground, not on trees.
This orchid has a stem shaped like a cone. Its leaves are light green and shiny. It produces many purple flowers. These flowers grow close together on a stem that is both green and purple.
Description
The pouched spur orchid is a plant that grows on the ground. It is an evergreen plant, so it stays green all year. It has a stem that stands up straight or leans a little. This stem is shaped like a cone. It is about 50–120 mm (2–5 in) tall and 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) wide.
The plant usually has four to six leaves. These leaves are shiny and light green. Their edges are a bit wavy. Each leaf can be 200–400 mm (8–20 in) long. They are also 50–100 mm (2–4 in) wide.
Many purple flowers grow on a stem. This flowering stem is green and purple. It can be 200–500 mm (8–20 in) long. Each flower is about 8 mm (0.3 in) long. They are also about 9 mm (0.4 in) wide.
The sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower. They are about 5 mm (0.2 in) long. The top sepal points downwards. The side sepals spread out. Their tips also point down. The petals are about 4 mm (0.2 in) long. Their tips are turned down too. The labellum is a special part of the orchid flower. It is shaped like a horseshoe. It is 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long. It has smooth edges and a blunt tip. This orchid blooms between January and April.
How it got its name
The pouched spur orchid was first officially described in 1976. A scientist named Walter Thomas Upton gave it the name Malaxis marsupichilum. He found a sample of the plant in the McIlwraith Range. He wrote about it in a publication called The Orchadian.
Later, in 1995, another scientist named Dariusz Szlachetko changed its name. He renamed it Crepidium marsupichilum. This is the name it has today.
Where it lives
The pouched spur orchid is very common. It grows across tropical north Queensland. You can find it in places like the Iron Range. It also grows in the McIlwraith Range. You might even see it on the Torres Strait Islands.
This orchid likes to grow in shady rainforests. It prefers to live in the leaf litter on the ground.
