Slender mignonette orchid facts for kids

The slender mignonette orchid (also called the inland onion orchid) is a special type of orchid. Its scientific name is Microtis eremaea. This orchid only grows in certain parts of Australia. You can find it in the south-west of Western Australia and the western part of South Australia. It has a single, thin leaf that looks a bit like an onion. This orchid can grow up to fifty small, greenish-yellow flowers. Each flower has a unique heart-shaped part called a labellum. These orchids often grow in areas further inland than other onion orchids.

What Does the Slender Mignonette Orchid Look Like?

The slender mignonette orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also a deciduous plant, so some parts might die back in certain seasons. This orchid is a herb and has an underground tuber (a swollen stem that stores food).

It has one straight, smooth, tube-shaped leaf. This leaf can be about 300 to 450 millimeters (12 to 18 inches) long. It is also about 3 to 8 millimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) wide.

Between ten and fifty yellowish-green flowers grow on a stem. This flowering stem can be about 300 to 400 millimeters (12 to 16 inches) tall. The flowers themselves are quite small. They are about 2 to 2.5 millimeters (0.08 to 0.1 inches) long. They are also about 1.5 to 2 millimeters (0.06 to 0.08 inches) wide. Each flower has an ovary (the part that holds the seeds) about 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.

The top sepal (a leaf-like part of the flower) is hood-shaped. It is about 2 to 2.5 millimeters long and 1 millimeter wide. The two side sepals are about 2 millimeters long and 1 millimeter wide. Their tips curl downwards. The petals are about 1.5 millimeters long and 1 millimeter wide. They are partly covered by the top sepal. The most special part is the labellum. This part is heart-shaped. It is about 1.5 to 2 millimeters long and 1 millimeter wide. It curves downwards and has slightly wavy edges. These orchids usually bloom from August to October.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The slender mignonette orchid was first officially described in 1996. A scientist named Robert Bates gave it its formal name. He found a sample of the plant near Mount Magnet. The description was then published in a science journal.

The second part of its scientific name, eremaea, comes from a Latin word. This word means "arid" or "desert-like." This name was chosen because the orchid often grows in dry, inland areas.

Where Does This Orchid Live?

The slender mignonette orchid often grows on granite rocks that stick out of the ground. It can also be found near streams that only flow sometimes. Sometimes, many of these orchids grow together in large groups. You can find this orchid in Western Australia. It grows between Balladonia and Cue. It also lives in the western part of South Australia.

Is This Orchid Safe?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants. They have classified Microtis eremaea as "not threatened." This means the orchid is not currently in danger of disappearing.