Tableland feather orchid facts for kids

The Dendrobium crassum, also known as the tableland feather orchid, is a special kind of orchid. It grows on other plants, but it doesn't harm them. This orchid is found only in tropical North Queensland, Australia. It has thick, dark reddish-brown stems called pseudobulbs. It also has up to three tough, leathery leaves. Its flowers are white with purple marks on a special lip-like part called the labellum.

What Does This Orchid Look Like?

The tableland feather orchid is an epiphytic herb. This means it's a plant that grows on other plants, like trees, but it's not a parasite. It gets its water and nutrients from the air and rain.

Stems and Leaves

• It has cylindrical, dark reddish-brown stems called pseudobulbs. These pseudobulbs are like thick, swollen stems that store water and food.
• They are usually about 30 to 120 millimeters (1.2 to 4.7 inches) long. They are also about 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
• Each pseudobulb has up to three thick, leathery, dark green leaves.
• These leaves grow from the top of the pseudobulb. They are about 30 to 60 millimeters (1.2 to 2.4 inches) long. They are also about 15 to 30 millimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) wide.

Flowers and Petals

• This orchid produces between three and ten white flowers.
• The flowers grow on a long stem that can be 30 to 650 millimeters (1.2 to 25.6 inches) long.
• Each flower is about 22 to 32 millimeters (0.9 to 1.3 inches) long. They are also about 20 to 30 millimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) wide.
• The flower has different parts:
  • The dorsal sepal (the top part) is about 16 to 22 millimeters (0.6 to 0.9 inches) long. It is about 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide.
  • The lateral sepals (the side parts) are about 15 to 20 millimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long. They are also about 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide.
  • The petals are about 15 to 22 millimeters (0.6 to 0.9 inches) long. They are about 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) wide.
• The most interesting part is the labellum. This is a special lip-like petal.
• The labellum is white with purplish markings. It is about 6 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and wide.
• It has three lobes, or sections. The side lobes stand up and are pointed. The middle lobe is also pointed and has a yellow line down its center.
• This orchid usually flowers from July to September.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The tableland feather orchid was first officially described in 2006. Three botanists, David Jones, Bruce Gray, and Mark Clements, described it. They found a plant near Herberton.

• They first named it Tropilis crassa. This description was published in a science book called Australian Orchid Research.
• Later, in 2014, another botanist named Julian Shaw changed its name. He renamed it Dendrobium crassum.
• The word crassum comes from Latin. It means "thick" or "stout".
• This name was chosen because the orchid has thick pseudobulbs. They are thicker compared to a similar orchid called Dendrobium angustum.

Where Does This Orchid Live?

The Dendrobium crassum orchid likes to grow on old forest oak trees. These trees are also known as Allocasuarina torulosa. It lives in moist, open forests. You can find this orchid on the Atherton Tableland in Queensland, Australia.