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Swamp beard orchid facts for kids

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Swamp beard orchid
Scientific classification
Genus:
Calochilus
Species:
uliginosus

The swamp beard orchid (Calochilus uliginosus) is a special kind of orchid that only grows in Western Australia. It's called a "swamp" orchid because it likes wet places. The "beard" part of its name comes from the fuzzy, reddish-purple hairs on its main petal. This orchid has one dark green leaf with a reddish-purple base. Its flowers are usually greenish to brownish with cool red lines.

What it Looks Like

The swamp beard orchid is a plant that grows on land and lives for many years. It has an underground tuber (like a small potato) that helps it store food. Each year, it grows a single dark green leaf that can be about 10 to 40 centimetres (4 to 16 inches) long. This leaf is usually fully grown when the first flower opens.

The plant can grow a flowering stem from 15 to 60 centimetres (6 to 24 inches) tall. On this stem, you might see up to seven greenish or brownish flowers. Each flower is about 2 to 2.6 centimetres (0.8 to 1 inch) long and has red stripes and blotches.

Orchids have special parts:

  • The dorsal sepal (the top part) is shaped like an egg and is about 9 to 13 millimetres long.
  • The lateral sepals (the side parts) are similar in length but a bit narrower.
  • The petals are smaller, about 4 to 6 millimetres long.
  • The labellum is the most interesting part! It's a flat, special petal that is about 14 to 18 millimetres long. Near its base, it has short, reddish-purple bumps called calli. The middle of the labellum has hairs up to 5 millimetres long, which look like a "beard." The very tip has a small, sticky "tail."
  • The column is the central part of the flower. It has two purple spots that look like "eyes" connected by a red line.

This orchid usually flowers from October to December.

How it Got its Name

The swamp beard orchid was first officially described in 2006 by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the plant near a town called Albany.

The scientific name, uliginosus, comes from a Latin word that means "marsh" or "swamp." This name was chosen because the orchid loves to grow in swampy areas.

Where it Lives

You can find the swamp beard orchid growing in thick plants in seasonal swamps. These swamps are found between Gingin and Albany in Western Australia. It lives in areas known as the Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, and Warren regions.

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