Conical fly orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conical fly orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelasis
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| Species: |
capitata
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| Synonyms | |
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Thelasis ochreata Lindl. |
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The conical fly orchid, also known as Thelasis capitata, is a special plant in the orchid family. It grows in clumps and is an epiphyte, which means it grows on other plants, like trees, but doesn't harm them. This orchid has flat, bulb-like stems called pseudobulbs. Each pseudobulb has one long, strap-shaped leaf. Many small, yellowish-green flowers grow together in a cone shape on a thin but strong stem. You can find this orchid in countries from Thailand all the way to Malesia, including on Christmas Island.
What it Looks Like
The conical fly orchid is an epiphyte with thin roots. It has flattened pseudobulbs that are about 10-15 millimeters (0.39-0.59 inches) long and wide. Each pseudobulb has a single leaf that is thick, fleshy, and dark green. These leaves are shaped like a strap and are about 50-150 millimeters (2.0-5.9 inches) long and 10-18 millimeters (0.39-0.71 inches) wide.
Many small, yellowish-green flowers grow in a cone shape at the top of a stiff stem. This stem is about 70-180 millimeters (2.8-7.1 inches) long and grows from the base of the pseudobulb. Each flower is about 3-4 millimeters (0.12-0.16 inches) long and 2.5-3 millimeters (0.098-0.118 inches) wide. The flowers open one by one in a spiral pattern, and each flower lasts for a few days.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, is about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) long. The side sepals are a bit longer, about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long. The petals are smaller than the sepals. The labellum, which is a special lip-like petal, is about 4-4.5 millimeters (0.16-0.18 inches) long and curves downwards. These orchids usually bloom between April and June.
Name and History
The conical fly orchid was first officially described in 1825 by a scientist named Carl Ludwig Blume. He wrote about it in a book called Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië. The second part of its scientific name, capitata, comes from a Latin word. It means "having a head," which describes how the flowers grow in a cone-shaped head.
Where it Lives
The conical fly orchid usually grows on trees in rainforests. You can find it in many places across Southeast Asia. These include Thailand, Borneo, Java, the Maluku Islands, the Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Christmas Island.
