Tall bird orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tall bird orchid |
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The Tall Bird Orchid, also known by its scientific name Chiloglottis gunnii, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in Tasmania, an island state of Australia. This orchid has two wide leaves. It grows a single flower that can be green or purplish-brown. The flower has a unique part called the labellum. This labellum has a line of small, upright bumps called calli. These calli have swollen tops. You can find the Tall Bird Orchid in many places, especially near the coast. It likes to grow in forests that are damp or wet.
What the Tall Bird Orchid Looks Like
The Tall Bird 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 deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant has two leaves that are about 40–60 mm (1.6–2.4 in) long and 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) wide.
A single flower grows on a stem that is about 60–100 mm (2–4 in) tall. The flower itself is about 20–24 mm (0.79–0.94 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide. Its color can be green or purplish-brown.
The flower has different parts:
- The top part, called the dorsal sepal, looks like an egg or a spatula. It is about 20–24 mm (0.8–0.9 in) long and 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide.
- The two side parts, called the lateral sepals, are thin and pointed. They are about 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide.
- All three sepals have a tiny, sticky tip about 0.5–1.5 mm (0.02–0.06 in) long.
- The petals are curved and spread out wide. They are about 15–17 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long and 4.5–6 mm (0.18–0.24 in) wide.
- The labellum is the most special part. It is broadly egg-shaped or heart-shaped. It measures about 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide. On the labellum, there is a line of pillar-like bumps called calli. These calli are about 3 mm (0.1 in) tall and have large, swollen heads up to 2 mm (0.08 in) wide.
- The column is a curved part of the flower. It is about 15–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. It has narrow, wing-like structures.
How it Got its Name
The Tall Bird Orchid, Chiloglottis gunnii, was first officially described in 1840. This was done by a person named John Lindley. He wrote about it in his book called The Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants.
The second part of its name, gunnii, was given to honor Ronald Campbell Gunn. He was the one who collected the first sample of this orchid. This sample was then sent to William Jackson Hooker, who passed it on to Lindley for study.
Where the Tall Bird Orchid Lives
The Tall Bird Orchid is found across many areas in Tasmania. However, it is not very common to see. It mostly grows in wet forests and in the bushy areas near the coast.
