Red sun orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red sun orchid |
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| Thelymitra × macmillanii growing near Bendigo | |
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Thelymitra
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| Species: |
× macmillanii
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The red sun orchid, also known as the crimson sun orchid, is a special type of orchid found only in south-eastern Australia. It's a natural mix, or hybrid, of two other orchid species: T. antennifera and either T. carnea or T. rubra. This beautiful plant has a single long, thin leaf and can grow up to five bright red, or sometimes yellow, flowers.
What the Red Sun Orchid Looks Like
The red sun orchid, Thelymitra × macmillanii, is a tuberous plant. This means it grows from a swollen underground stem, similar to a potato. It's also a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years and has soft, green stems.
Each plant has one long, thin leaf that is shaped like a channel. This leaf can be from 50 to 210 mm (about 2 to 8 inches) long and 2 to 5 mm (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
The plant produces a flowering stem that grows 100 to 300 mm (about 4 to 12 inches) tall. On this stem, you can find up to six bright red flowers, though sometimes they are yellow. Each flower is about 20 to 40 mm (about 0.8 to 1.6 inches) wide.
There are also one or two small leaf-like parts called bracts along the flowering stem. The sepals and petals, which are like the flower's "leaves," are 12 to 20 mm (about 0.5 to 0.8 inches) long.
The central part of the flower, called the column, is the same color as the petals. It's oval-shaped and about 4 to 6 mm (about 0.16 to 0.24 inches) long. The small part on top of the anther (where pollen is made) is very tiny and has a bumpy texture. The side parts of the column vary, but they are usually 2 to 3 mm (about 0.08 to 0.12 inches) long and feel rough or bumpy all over. These orchids typically bloom from August to September.
How it Got its Name
The red sun orchid was first officially described in 1865 by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He found a specimen of the plant near Mount Eliza and Mount Martha in Australia.
The scientific name, x macmillanii, was given to honor "T. McMillan." This person collected the original plant specimen that scientists used to describe the species. This original plant is called the type specimen.
Where the Red Sun Orchid Lives
You can find the red sun orchid growing in areas where its two parent species also grow together. These places include grasslands, woodlands, and forests. It is found in central and western Victoria and in the south-eastern part of South Australia.
