Reddish beard orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reddish beard orchid |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Calochilus russeus in Cathedral Rock National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calochilus
|
| Species: |
russeus
|
The Calochilus russeus, also known as the reddish beard orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in the Northern Tablelands area of New South Wales, Australia. This unique plant has a single, thick, dark green leaf. Its flowers are greenish with cool red stripes. The biggest part of the flower is called the labellum, and it's quite hairy! This orchid is rare and usually grows alone near a place called Ebor.
Contents
What Does the Reddish Beard Orchid Look Like?
The reddish beard orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It also loses its leaves each year (it's deciduous). This herb has an underground tuber (like a small potato) that stores food.
It grows a single, thick, dark green leaf that is grooved or channelled. This leaf can be about 250 to 350 mm (10-14 inches) long and 12 to 18 mm (0.5-0.7 inches) wide. Unlike some other orchids, its leaf is fully grown when the plant flowers.
Flowers of the Reddish Beard Orchid
Each plant can have between four and twelve greenish flowers with red stripes. These flowers grow on a stem that can be 400 to 700 mm (16-28 inches) tall. Each flower only lasts for about two to five days.
Let's look closer at the flower parts:
- The dorsal sepal (top part) is about 12 to 14 mm (0.5 inches) long and 8 to 10 mm (0.3-0.4 inches) wide. It forms a hood over the flower's central part, called the column.
- The lateral sepals (side parts) are about 12 mm (0.5 inches) long and 5 mm (0.2 inches) wide. They spread out behind the labellum.
- The petals are about 8 to 9 mm (0.3-0.4 inches) long and 5 mm (0.2 inches) wide. They are shaped a bit unevenly and have a hooked tip. They curve forward, partly surrounding the column and the upper labellum.
- The labellum is the largest and most noticeable part. It's about 25 to 30 mm (1.0-1.2 inches) long and 9 to 11 mm (0.4 inches) wide. Near its base, it has short, thick red bumps called calli. In the middle, it has thick hairs that can be up to 8 mm (0.3 inches) long. The very tip of the labellum is special; it's about 16 to 18 mm (0.6-0.7 inches) long and 4 mm (0.2 inches) wide.
- The column (the central part of the flower) has two purple spots that look like "eyes."
The reddish beard orchid usually flowers from December to February.
Where Does the Reddish Beard Orchid Live?
The reddish beard orchid grows in peppermint forests near Ebor. It likes to grow among bracken ferns, grasses, and small shrubs. You can find these orchids scattered around, often in small numbers. They also grow in Cathedral Rock National Park.
How Was This Orchid Named?
The reddish beard orchid, Calochilus russeus, was officially described in 2004. A botanist named David Jones first wrote about it after finding a specimen near the road between Guyra and Ebor. His description was published in a journal called The Orchadian.
The second part of its scientific name, russeus, comes from a Latin word. It means "reddish," which perfectly describes the red stripes and hairs on its flowers!
Images for kids
-
Calochilus russeus in Cathedral Rock National Park
