Mountain sun orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain sun orchid |
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| Thelymitra alcockiae growing near Brindabella | |
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Thelymitra
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| Species: |
alpina
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The mountain sun orchid (scientific name: Thelymitra alpina) is a special type of orchid. It only grows in south-eastern Australia. This beautiful plant has one dark green leaf with a purple bottom. It can have up to twenty flowers, usually blue or purple. You can find it in cool, high places like mountains in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria.
What Does the Mountain Sun Orchid Look Like?
The mountain sun orchid is a tuberous plant, meaning it grows from a thick underground stem. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years and has soft stems.
It has one upright, thick leaf that is shaped like a line or a spear. This leaf can be about 100–320 mm (4–10 in) long and 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) wide.
The plant produces between two and twenty flowers. These flowers are usually blue or purple, but can sometimes be lilac, pink, or white. Each flower is about 25–40 mm (1–2 in) wide. They grow on a tall stem that can be 150–800 mm (6–30 in) high.
The sepals and petals of the flower are 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. The central part of the flower, called the column, is pale blue or pinkish. It is about 3.5–5 mm (0.14–0.20 in) long.
The top part of the anther (which holds pollen) is brown. It has a yellow, puffy, tube-like tip with a V-shaped cut at the end. The parts on the side of the column have thick, mop-like bunches of white or pink hairs. These orchids usually bloom from October to January.
How Did the Mountain Sun Orchid Get Its Name?
The mountain sun orchid was officially described in 2013. This was done by a scientist named Jeff Jeanes. He found a sample of the plant in the Kosciuszko National Park. The description was then published in a science journal called Muelleria.
The second part of its scientific name, alpina, comes from a Latin word. It means "of high mountains." This name fits well because of where the orchid grows!
Where Does the Mountain Sun Orchid Grow?
The mountain sun orchid likes to grow in grassy forests, meadows, or woodlands. It is often found with snow gum trees. These plants grow at high elevations, usually between 500 and 1,600 m (2,000 and 5,000 ft) above sea level.
You can find this orchid in the highlands of New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria.
