Wandoo sun orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow tufted sun orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelymitra
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| Species: |
latiloba
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The wandoo sun orchid (scientific name: Thelymitra latiloba) is a special type of orchid that grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It has a single, upright, dark green leaf and can grow up to twelve beautiful blue flowers. These flowers often have darker blue lines and sometimes a touch of purple. The top part of the flower's anther (which holds pollen) has a wavy shape.
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About the Wandoo Sun Orchid
The wandoo sun orchid is a tuberous plant, meaning it grows from a round, underground storage part, like a potato. It's also a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years and has soft, green stems, not woody ones.
It has one strong, dark green leaf that is shaped like a long, narrow spear. This leaf can be about 150 to 300 mm (6 to 12 inches) long and 3 to 12 mm (0.1 to 0.5 inches) wide. The base of the leaf is often a bit purple.
What the Flowers Look Like
The wandoo sun orchid can have up to twelve blue flowers on one stem. These flowers are about 13 to 27 mm (0.5 to 1.1 inches) wide. They often have darker blue lines, like veins, and sometimes have a lovely purple color mixed in. The whole flowering stem can grow quite tall, from 80 to 600 mm (3 to 24 inches) high.
The parts of the flower, called sepals and petals, are about 8 to 22 mm (0.3 to 0.9 inches) long. Inside the flower, there's a central part called the column, which is usually whitish or light blue.
The top part of the anther, which is where the pollen is, is dark purplish-black and has a wavy tip that can be white or pink. The side parts of the column have fuzzy tufts of purple or white hairs, which look a bit like tiny mops!
How it Reproduces
These orchids rely on insects to help them reproduce. The flowers usually open up on warm, sunny days to attract insects. You can see the wandoo sun orchid flowering from September to November.
Where the Wandoo Sun Orchid Lives
The wandoo sun orchid likes to grow in places where there's a lot of leaf litter on the ground. It often lives in wandoo forests and woodlands. These special areas are found between the towns of Wongan Hills and Dumbleyung in Western Australia. It lives in specific natural areas known as the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, and Mallee regions.
Naming the Orchid
This orchid was officially named Thelymitra latiloba in 2001 by a scientist named Jeff Jeanes. The name latiloba comes from two Latin words: latus, which means "broad" or "wide," and lobus, which means "a lobe." This name describes the wide side parts on the flower's column.
Conservation Status
Good news! The wandoo sun orchid is currently considered "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife. This means it's not in danger of disappearing right now.
