Opera house greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Opera house greenhood |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
hians
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| Synonyms | |
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Diplodium hians (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The opera house greenhood (scientific name: Pterostylis hians) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in New South Wales, Australia. When this plant is not flowering, it has a flat circle of leaves on the ground. But when it blooms, it shows off a single, shiny white and green flower. This unique greenhood orchid is found in just one small area near Ulladulla.
About the Opera House Greenhood
The opera house greenhood is a plant that grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage organ. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous herb, so its leaves fall off during certain seasons.
When the plant is not flowering, it has a group of dark green, round leaves that lie flat on the ground. Each leaf is about 8 to 12 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long and 9 to 13 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) wide.
The Flower's Appearance
When the opera house greenhood flowers, a single bright green and white bloom appears on a stem. This stem can grow from 100 to 300 millimeters (4 to 12 inches) tall. The flower itself is about 13 to 16 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long and 10 to 16 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, and the petals are joined together. They form a hood, or "galea," over the central part of the flower, which is called the column. The dorsal sepal has a short, sharp tip.
The two side sepals are held close to the galea. They have thin, thread-like tips that stand up and are about 9 to 12 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long. There's also a platform-like area between their bases. The labellum, which is a special part of the orchid flower, is about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. You can just see it peeking out above the platform. These orchids usually flower between March and May.
How it Got its Name
The opera house greenhood was first officially described in 1997 by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the plant near Manyana. The scientific name hians comes from a Latin word that means "gaping" or "yawning." This might refer to the shape of the flower.
Where it Lives
This special opera house greenhood orchid grows in a small area near Ulladulla, New South Wales. It prefers to live in shrubby forests.
