Pink beaks facts for kids

The pink beaks orchid, also known as Pyrorchis forrestii, is a special type of orchid that grows only in Western Australia. It's called "pink beaks" because of its pretty pink and white flowers. This amazing plant has a secret: it only blooms after a bushfire has happened the summer before!

About the Pink Beaks Orchid

The pink beaks orchid is a plant that grows from the ground, not on trees. It's a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous herb, so it loses its leaves at certain times of the year.

This orchid has an underground tuber, which is like a small, swollen stem that stores food. It usually has two or three light green leaves that lie flat on the ground. These leaves are tough and feel a bit like leather. They are about 35 to 70 millimeters (1.4 to 2.8 inches) long and 20 to 35 millimeters (0.8 to 1.4 inches) wide.

What Do Pink Beaks Flowers Look Like?

The pink beaks orchid can have up to seven flowers on a stem that grows between 100 and 300 millimeters (3.9 to 11.8 inches) tall. The flowers smell sweet and are pink and white. They are about 15 to 20 millimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long and 25 to 30 millimeters (1.0 to 1.2 inches) wide. Sometimes, they even have small red spots!

Each flower has different parts:

• The dorsal sepal is the top part, shaped like a narrow egg. It's about 17 to 20 millimeters (0.7 to 0.8 inches) long.
• The lateral sepals are similar but narrower. They point downwards and away from each other.
• The petals are like the lateral sepals in size and shape.
• The labellum is a special lip-like part of the flower. It's egg-shaped, about 13 to 16 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. It's white with red lines and has tiny teeth along its edges.

Pink beaks orchids usually flower between October and December. But remember, they only bloom if there was a fire in the area the summer before!

How Did Pink Beaks Get Its Name?

The pink beaks orchid was first officially described in 1810 by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He first called it Lyperanthus forrestii. He wrote about it in a book called Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.

Later, in 1994, two other scientists, David Jones and Mark Clements, changed its name to Pyrorchis forrestii. The second part of its scientific name, forrestii, was chosen to honor John Forrest. He was a very important person, the first Premier of Western Australia.

Where Do Pink Beaks Grow?

The pink beaks orchid grows in Western Australia. You can find it in flat areas that get very wet during winter. These areas are mostly located between the towns of Augusta and Albany. It grows in specific natural areas known as the Jarrah Forest and Warren regions.

Is the Pink Beaks Orchid Safe?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants and animals. They have classified Pyrorchis forrestii as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these orchids, and they are not in danger of disappearing.