Leafy sun orchid facts for kids

The Leafy Sun Orchid (Thelymitra bracteata) is a special kind of orchid that grows only in south-eastern Australia. It gets its name because it has a single, flat leaf and its flowers often open up when the sun is shining. This orchid usually has pale blue flowers, which are greenish on the back. It also has larger leaf-like structures called bracts compared to other similar sun orchids.

What Does It Look Like?

The Leafy Sun Orchid grows from a tuber (a bit like a potato). It's a plant that lives for many years. It has one upright, strong, flat, dark green leaf. This leaf can be about 20 to 45 centimeters (8 to 18 inches) long and 8 to 15 millimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) wide. The bottom part of the leaf is often purplish.

This orchid can have anywhere from five to thirty pale blue flowers. Each flower is about 1.6 to 3 centimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) wide. These flowers grow on a tall stem that can reach 30 to 80 centimeters (12 to 31 inches) high. You'll usually see two noticeable bracts (small, leaf-like parts) on the stem.

The flower parts, called sepals and petals, are about 6 to 14 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long and 3 to 7 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. The central part of the flower, called the column, is white or greenish. It's about 5 to 6.5 millimeters (0.2 to 0.25 inches) long. The top part of the anther (where pollen is made) is reddish to brown with a yellow tip. It curves forward and has a small notch. The side parts of the column bend sharply upwards. They have thick, white hairs that look a bit like a toothbrush. You can usually see these orchids flowering from September to December.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The Leafy Sun Orchid was officially named in 2004. It was described by a scientist named Jeff Jeanes. He used notes from another scientist, Joseph Weber. The description was published in a science journal called Muelleria. The plant used for the description was found in the Scott Creek Conservation Park.

The second part of its scientific name, bracteata, comes from a Latin word. It means "provided with bracts." This name was chosen because this orchid has very noticeable bracts.

Where Does It Live?

The Leafy Sun Orchid lives in a few separate places in south-eastern Australia. You can find it in south-western Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. It likes to grow in forests and open grassy areas.

Protecting the Leafy Sun Orchid

Sadly, the Leafy Sun Orchid is considered "endangered" in Tasmania. This means it's at a high risk of disappearing forever in that state. It's protected under a law called the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.

There are a few main reasons why this orchid is in danger:

• There aren't many of them left.
• Their homes are being cleared away for other uses.
• The way fires happen in their habitat isn't always right for them.
• Their living areas are being disturbed by human activities.