Red shield orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red shield orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nervilia
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| Species: |
uniflora
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The red shield orchid (also known as Nervilia uniflora) is a small and pretty plant. It's a type of Orchid that grows on the ground in northern Queensland, Australia. This special orchid has a single flower that is usually pink or purple. It doesn't last very long. After the flower fades, a dark green, heart-shaped leaf grows from the bottom of the plant.
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What the Red Shield Orchid Looks Like
The red shield orchid is a ground plant. It is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It also loses its leaves each year, like a deciduous tree.
These orchids often grow in groups, forming small colonies. However, only a few plants in a group will flower in any given year.
Flowers
Each red shield orchid plant that flowers will have one pink or purple flower. This flower is about 25 to 30 millimeters (about 1 inch) wide and tall. It grows on a stem that stands about 100 to 200 millimeters (4 to 8 inches) high.
The flower has parts called sepals and petals. The sepals are about 18 to 23 millimeters long. The petals are a bit shorter and narrower. The labellum (which is the orchid's special lip petal) is also pink or purple. It is about 14 to 18 millimeters long and has three parts, with the middle part pointing downwards.
Leaves
After the flower blooms and fades, a single leaf grows. This happens even for plants that didn't flower that year. The leaf is shaped like a heart.
It is dark green on top and has a reddish color underneath. The leaf is about 25 to 35 millimeters (1 to 1.4 inches) wide. It lies flat, close to the ground.
When it Flowers
Red shield orchids usually flower between November and January. This is during the summer months in Australia.
How it Got its Name
The red shield orchid was first officially described in 1866. A scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller gave it the name Pogonia uniflora. He wrote about it in a book called Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.
Later, in 1906, another scientist named Rudolf Schlechter changed its name. He renamed it Nervilia uniflora, which is its scientific name today.
Where the Red Shield Orchid Lives
You can find the red shield orchid in northern Queensland, Australia. It grows in an area stretching from Cooktown down to Proserpine.
These orchids like to grow in different types of places. They can be found in open woodlands, forests, and even in rainforests.
