Thelymitra longifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White sun orchid |
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|---|---|
| Thelymitra longifolia near Totaranui | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelymitra
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| Species: |
longifolia
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| Synonyms | |
The white sun orchid, also known as the common sun orchid or maikuku, is a special type of orchid found only in New Zealand. This plant is unique because it was the first of many similar orchid species to be officially described. It has one leaf that looks like a blade of grass. It also grows up to five white flowers.
What it Looks Like
The white sun orchid is a plant that grows from a tuber (a kind of underground stem). It lives for many years. It has one long, narrow leaf that can be from 50 to 380 mm (2 to 15 in) long. This leaf is also about 10 to 40 mm (0.4 to 1.6 in) wide.
The plant can grow a flowering stem up to 1,000 mm (39 in) tall. On this stem, it has up to five or more flowers. These flowers are white or a very light pink. The back of the flowers often looks reddish-green. Each flower is about 8 to 18 mm (0.3 to 0.7 in) wide.
The orchid's flowers have three sepals and three petals. One of the petals is called the labellum. All these parts look similar, but the top sepal is a bit wider. The central part of the flower, called the column, is white or brown at the bottom. It becomes dark brown or black near its top.
The part of the flower that holds pollen, called the anther, usually has a rounded, yellow top. The sides of the column have thick, white, tangled hairs. White sun orchids usually bloom from September to February.
Plant Names and History
The white sun orchid was first officially named Thelymitra longifolia in 1776. This was done by two scientists, Johann Reinhold Forster and his son Georg. They found the plant during James Cook's second trip to the Pacific Ocean.
Their description of the plant was published in a book called Characteres Generum Plantarum. The second part of its scientific name, longifolia, comes from two Latin words. Longus means "long," and folia means "leaves." So, longifolia means "long-leaved."
Where it Grows
The white sun orchid usually likes to grow in sunny, open areas. You can often find it among small bushes. Sometimes, it also grows in thick forests.
This orchid is found on many islands in New Zealand. These include the North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, Three Kings Islands, Chatham Island, and Auckland Islands. There have also been reports of it growing on Norfolk Island. However, scientists are not completely sure if those plants are exactly the same as the ones found in New Zealand.
