Small butterfly orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Small butterfly orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sarcochilus
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| Species: |
spathulatus
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| Synonyms | |
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The Small butterfly orchid (scientific name: Sarcochilus spathulatus) is a tiny, beautiful flower. It's a type of orchid that grows on other plants, not in the soil. This special orchid is only found in eastern Australia. It usually hangs down and has up to ten thin, leathery leaves. Its flowers are green to dark brown, and they have a creamy-white "lip" petal with purple marks.
Contents
What Does the Small Butterfly Orchid Look Like?
The Small butterfly orchid is a small plant that grows on trees. It has stems about 20 to 40 millimeters (about 1 to 1.5 inches) long. The plant usually hangs downwards.
Leaves and Flowers
This orchid has between two and ten thin, leathery leaves. They are shaped like narrow eggs. Each leaf is about 30 to 70 millimeters (1 to 2.5 inches) long. They are also about 14 to 17 millimeters (0.5 to 0.7 inches) wide.
The orchid can have up to five flowers. These flowers are green to dark brown. They are about 15 to 18 millimeters (0.6 to 0.7 inches) long. Each flower is also about 12 to 15 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) wide. The flowers are spread out on a stem that hangs down. This stem is about 30 to 50 millimeters (1 to 2 inches) long.
Flower Parts
The sepals and petals of the flower are narrow and oblong. They often get wider near their tips. The top sepal is about 5 to 7 millimeters long. The side sepals are a bit longer and wider. The petals are about 4 to 6 millimeters long. They are about 2.5 millimeters wide.
The orchid's "lip" petal, called the labellum, is cream-colored. It has purple markings and is about 5 millimeters long. This lip has three parts, called lobes. The side lobes stand up and get wider near their ends. The middle lobe is purple. These orchids usually bloom between July and October.
How Was the Small Butterfly Orchid Named?
The Small butterfly orchid was first officially described in 1927. A scientist named Richard Sanders Rogers gave it its formal name. He published his description in a scientific paper.
Meaning of the Name
The scientific name for this orchid is Sarcochilus spathulatus. The second part of the name, spathulatus, comes from a Latin word. That word is spatha. It means "paddle for stirring or mixing." This name likely refers to the shape of a part of the orchid.
Where Does the Small Butterfly Orchid Live?
The Small butterfly orchid grows on the outer branches of trees. You can find it in rainforests. It also lives in drier forests, especially near streams.
This orchid is found in eastern Australia. Its home range stretches from the Bunya Mountains in Queensland. It goes all the way down to the Hunter River in New South Wales.
