Powder-blue china orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Powder-blue china orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
ashbyae
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| Synonyms | |
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Cyanicula ashbyae (Hopper & A.P.Br.) |
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The Caladenia ashbyae, commonly known as the powder-blue china orchid, is a beautiful flower. It belongs to the orchid family. This special plant grows only in Western Australia. It has a short, wide leaf. Its flowers are usually a pretty pale bluish-mauve color. Sometimes, they can even be white!
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The powder-blue china orchid is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous herb. This means its leaves fall off at certain times. It grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root.
It has one flat leaf. This leaf is about 20 to 40 millimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) long. It's also about 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide. Often, the leaf has dried up by the time the flower opens.
The Flowers
One or two flowers grow on a stalk. The stalk is about 80 to 150 millimeters (3 to 6 inches) tall. Each flower is about 20 to 30 millimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) long and wide. They are usually pale bluish-mauve. These flowers have a strong scent. Very rarely, you might find a white one!
The flower has different parts. The top part is called the dorsal sepal. It stands up straight. It is about 15 to 30 millimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) long. The two side parts are the lateral sepals. They are about 17 to 25 millimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) long. The petals are similar in size.
The special lip of the flower is called the labellum. It is about 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. It is also about 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. The labellum is bluish-mauve and mostly flat. Its tip curves downwards. The sides of the labellum have tiny teeth. Many small, bead-like bumps called calli are spread over it. This orchid usually flowers from October to early November.
How It Got Its Name
The powder-blue china orchid was first officially described in 2000. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown, gave it its first scientific name, Cyanicula ashbyae. They published their description in a science journal called Lindleyana. They studied a plant found in the Chiddarcooping Nature Reserve. This reserve is near Mukinbudin.
Later, in 2015, another scientist named Mark Clements studied the plant's molecular phylogenetics. This means he looked at its DNA to understand its family tree. Based on his studies, he changed the orchid's name to Caladenia ashbyae. The second part of its name, ashbyae, honors Miss Alison Ashby. She is known for discovering this special orchid.
Where It Lives
The powder-blue china orchid grows in Western Australia. You can find it on and near large granite rocks. These areas are between Pingrup and Beacon. It lives in specific natural areas. These include the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, and Mallee biogeographic regions.
Its Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants. They have classified Caladenia ashbyae as "not threatened." This means that currently, there are enough of these orchids. They are not in danger of disappearing.
