Peppertop sun orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peppertop sun orchid |
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| Thelymitra brevifolia in the Aranda Bushland | |
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Thelymitra
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| Species: |
brevifolia
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The peppertop sun orchid, also known as the short-leaf sun orchid, is a special type of orchid found only in south-eastern Australia. Its scientific name is Thelymitra brevifolia. This orchid has a single, short, dark green leaf that stands upright. It can grow up to twenty purplish or purplish-blue flowers. This orchid is quite common and grows in many different places. It's also a "self-pollinating" plant, which means it can make seeds all by itself without needing help from insects or other plants.
What the Peppertop Sun Orchid Looks Like
The peppertop sun orchid is a type of plant that lives for many years. It grows from a round, underground storage part called a tuber, similar to a potato. It has one dark green leaf that is shaped like a long, narrow spear. This leaf can be 100–260 mm (4–10 in) long and 7–20 mm (0.3–0.8 in) wide. Sometimes, the leaf has reddish spots on it.
The orchid's flowers grow on a tall stem that can be 250–600 mm (10–20 in) high. There can be anywhere from two to twenty flowers on one stem. Each flower is purplish or purplish-blue and about 12–22 mm (0.5–0.9 in) wide. The outer parts of the flower, called sepals and petals, are about 6–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long and 3–6 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in)* wide.
Inside the flower, there's a special part called the column. It's pale blue or pale pink and measures about 4–5.5 mm (0.16–0.22 in) long and 2–3 millimetres (0.08–0.1 in)* wide. The top part of the anther (which holds the pollen) can be yellow or even black with a yellow tip. The parts on the sides of the column gently curve upwards and have fluffy white hairs, like little mops.
These orchids usually flower from September to November. Since they are self-pollinating, their flowers only open slowly on very hot days.
How the Peppertop Sun Orchid Got Its Name
The scientific name for this orchid, Thelymitra brevifolia, was officially given in 2004. A scientist named Jeff Jeanes described it for the first time. The name brevifolia comes from Latin words. "Brevis" means "short," and "folium" means "leaf." This name was chosen because the orchid's leaf is quite short compared to how tall its flower stem grows.
Where the Peppertop Sun Orchid Lives
The peppertop sun orchid is found in many places across south-eastern Australia. You can see it in:
- South-east New South Wales
- Victoria
- The Australian Capital Territory
- South-eastern South Australia
- The north and east coasts of Tasmania
This orchid is common and grows in many different types of places. It can be found in open areas like heathlands, in forests, and in woodlands. It often grows well in places where the ground has been disturbed, like along roadsides or in areas that have been cleared.
