Stately helmet orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stately helmet orchid |
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| Corybas diemenicus near Inverleigh | |
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The Corybas diemenicus, also known as the stately helmet orchid or veined helmet orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in south-eastern Australia. This plant has a unique round or heart-shaped leaf. Its flower is usually reddish-purple with a white patch in the middle.
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What Does the Stately Helmet Orchid Look Like?
The stately helmet orchid is a ground-dwelling plant. It is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years and has soft stems. Each plant usually has one leaf. This leaf is either round or shaped like a heart. It measures about 15 to 25 millimeters (0.6 to 1 inch) long. The leaf is green on top and silvery-green underneath.
The Orchid's Unique Flower
Usually, there is only one flower on each plant. The flower stands upright and is dark reddish to purple. It has parts that you can see through. The flower is about 12 to 16 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. It is also about 10 to 16 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, is quite large. It is 18 to 25 millimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) long. This sepal forms a hood over the labellum, which is the orchid's special lip. The side sepals are small, about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long. They join at their base and then narrow to a fine point. The petals are wider but shorter than these side sepals. They are also joined to them.
The labellum, or lip, of the flower is 10 to 13 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long. It is 11 to 16 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide. This part is shaped like a tube. It has a white center and many short, wide teeth along its edges. You can see these beautiful flowers from June to December.
How the Stately Helmet Orchid Got Its Name
The stately helmet orchid was first officially described in 1840. A scientist named John Lindley gave it the name Corysanthes diemenica. He wrote about it in his book, The Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants.
Later, in 1942, two other scientists, Herman Rupp and William Nicholls, changed its name. They renamed it Corybas diemenicus. The second part of its name, diemenicus, comes from a Latin word. It means "belonging to, or from Tasmania." This is because Tasmania used to be called Van Diemen's Land.
Where Does the Stately Helmet Orchid Grow?
The Corybas diemenicus is a common plant. It grows in many places. You can find it in moist forests and rainforests. Sometimes, it even grows in drier areas.
This orchid lives in New South Wales, starting from Barrington Tops National Park in the south. It also grows through the Australian Capital Territory. You can find it in the south-east of Victoria and all over Tasmania.
