Scarp sun orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scarp sun orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelymitra
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| Species: |
frenchii
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The scarp sun orchid, also known as the Jarrahdale sun orchid, is a special type of orchid. Its scientific name is Thelymitra frenchii. This beautiful flower belongs to the Orchidaceae family. It is found only in a small area in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that region, growing naturally nowhere else in the world! The scarp sun orchid has one long, thick leaf and usually grows up to three small, blue flowers.
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What Does the Scarp Sun Orchid Look Like?
The scarp sun orchid is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It grows from a tuber (a kind of underground stem, like a potato). Each plant has a single leaf that is pale green, thick, and shaped like a long, narrow spear. This leaf can be about 6 to 12 centimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) long and 0.5 to 1.2 centimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) wide.
Flowers and Their Parts
The plant produces a flowering stem that stands about 5 to 14 centimeters (2 to 5.5 inches) tall. On this stem, you can find up to three blue flowers, each about 1.8 to 2.5 centimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) wide.
- The outer parts of the flower, called sepals and petals, are about 0.8 to 1.2 centimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long.
- Inside the flower, there's a central part called the column. It's usually bluish or pinkish, about 0.5 centimeters (0.2 inches) long.
- At the top of the column, there's a small lobe (part of the anther) that is mostly yellow with a thin purple band.
- The sides of the column have fuzzy, white hairs that look a bit like a toothbrush!
One cool thing about these orchids is that their flowers stay open even when the weather is cool, and they remain open late into the day. So far, these orchids have only been seen flowering in October.
Where Does the Scarp Sun Orchid Live?
The scarp sun orchid prefers to grow in pockets of soil found on granite rocks within jarrah forests. It is only known to exist near a place called Jarrahdale, which is in the Jarrah Forest area of Western Australia.
Protecting the Scarp Sun Orchid
Good news! The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife currently considers Thelymitra frenchii to be "not threatened." This means it's not in immediate danger of disappearing, which is great for this unique Australian orchid!
