Striped snake orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Striped snake orchid |
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The Striped snake orchid (scientific name: Bulbophyllum bowkettiae) is a special kind of orchid. It's called a "snake orchid" because of its thin, creeping stems that look a bit like snakes. This orchid grows on trees and rocks in the warm, wet rainforests of Far North Queensland, Australia.
It has flattened pseudobulbs (which are like swollen stems that store water) and a single tough, dark green leaf. The orchid produces a single cream-coloured flower with cool red stripes.
What it Looks Like
The Striped snake orchid is a herb that can grow in two ways:
- As an epiphyte: This means it grows on other plants, like trees, but it doesn't take food from them. It just uses them for support.
- As a lithophyte: This means it grows on rocks.
It has thin, creeping stems called rhizomes that press flat against the surface where it grows. These rhizomes have flattened pseudobulbs, which are about 7 to 10 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and 3 to 5 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. Each pseudobulb has deep grooves.
Each pseudobulb also has one strong, dark green, egg-shaped leaf. These leaves are about 10 to 25 millimeters (about 0.4 to 1 inch) long and 8 to 12 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.5 inches) wide.
The orchid grows a single flower on a thin stem that is 6 to 10 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.4 inches) long. The flower itself is cream-coloured with red stripes and is about 5 to 7 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and 6 to 8 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. Sometimes, the whole flower can be completely red.
The flower has sepals (leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud) that are 4 to 5 millimeters (about 0.16 to 0.2 inches) long and about 2 millimeters (about 0.08 inches) wide. The petals are about 2 millimeters (about 0.08 inches) long and 1 millimeter (about 0.04 inches) wide, each with a red stripe down the middle. The labellum (a special petal that often acts as a landing platform for pollinators) is about 2 millimeters (about 0.08 inches) long and 1 millimeter (about 0.04 inches) wide, with a groove in the middle.
These beautiful orchids usually bloom from April to September.
How it Got its Name
The Striped snake orchid was first officially described in 1885 by a botanist named Frederick Manson Bailey. He wrote about it in a scientific paper called Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland. He found the first plant growing on trees between Herberton and Mourilyan Harbour in Australia.
The second part of its scientific name, bowkettiae, was chosen to honor Eva F. Bowkett. She was a lady who carefully painted many small Queensland orchids, helping people learn more about them.
Where it Lives
You can find the Striped snake orchid in North Queensland, Australia. It lives in a wide area, from the McIlwraith Range on Cape York Peninsula in the north, all the way down to Big Tableland and the Tully River.
These orchids usually grow at high places, from about 600 to 1200 meters (about 2,000 to 4,000 feet) above sea level. However, you can also find them in lower areas near the coast, especially south of Innisfail.
See also
In Spanish: Bulbophyllum bowkettiae para niños
