Fringed sun orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fringed sun orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelymitra
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| Species: |
luteocilium
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The Fringed Sun Orchid (scientific name: Thelymitra luteocilium) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in south-eastern Australia, which means it's endemic there. This orchid has one thick, dark green leaf. It also grows up to six pretty flowers that are pale pink to reddish. These flowers have a unique wavy part on top of their "column," which is like the flower's central part.
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What the Fringed Sun Orchid Looks Like
The Fringed Sun Orchid is a plant that grows from a tuber, which is like a small underground storage organ. It's a perennial herb, meaning it lives for many years and has soft, green stems instead of woody ones.
Each orchid has one thick, dark green leaf. This leaf is shaped like a narrow spear and is about 100 to 200 mm (4 to 8 inches) long and 5 to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
The plant grows a flowering stem that can be 150 to 350 mm (6 to 14 inches) tall. On this stem, you'll find two to six pale pink to reddish flowers. Each flower is about 15 to 20 mm (0.6 to 0.8 inches) wide.
Flower Parts and Features
The flower has parts called sepals and petals, which look like the flower's "petals." These are about 7 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and 5 to 6 mm (0.2 inches) wide.
The "column" is the central part of the flower. It's pink to reddish, about 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 inches) long and 3 mm (0.12 inches) wide. On top of the column is a special lobe (a rounded part) that has a thick fringe, like tiny hairs. This tip is yellow with a dark band around it.
The sides of the column also have lobes. These have thick, yellow, "mop-like" tufts at their ends, which look really interesting!
How the Fringed Sun Orchid Reproduces
These orchids are self-pollinated. This means they can make seeds using their own pollen, without needing pollen from another plant. The flowers only open slowly on hot, humid days. You can usually see them flowering from August to October.
Naming the Fringed Sun Orchid
The Fringed Sun Orchid was first officially described in 1882. A scientist named Robert D. FitzGerald gave it its scientific name, Thelymitra luteocilium. He published his description in a magazine called The Gardeners' Chronicle.
The second part of its scientific name, luteocilium, helps describe the plant. It comes from two Latin words:
- luteus, which means "yellow"
- cilium, which means "eyelash"
This name likely refers to the yellow, fringe-like parts on the flower's column.
Where the Fringed Sun Orchid Lives
The Fringed Sun Orchid mostly grows in specific areas of south-eastern Australia. You can find it near low shrubs in forests and scrubland. It's common in central-western Victoria and eastern South Australia.
