Thelymitra nervosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted sun orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelymitra
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| Species: |
nervosa
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| Synonyms | |
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Thelymitra decora Cheeseman |
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The spotted sun orchid (scientific name: Thelymitra nervosa) is a special type of orchid that grows only in New Zealand. It's called a "sun orchid" because its flowers often open up when the sun is shining. This plant has one wide leaf and can have up to ten beautiful blue flowers, often with darker spots.
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What Does the Spotted Sun Orchid Look Like?
The spotted sun orchid is a perennial herb, which means it's a plant that lives for more than two years and doesn't have a woody stem like a tree. It grows from a tuber (a swollen underground stem, like a potato). Each plant has one long, channelled leaf that can be about 60 to 200 mm (2.4 to 7.9 in) long and 8 to 20 mm (0.3 to 0.8 in) wide.
Up to ten flowers grow on a tall stem, which can reach up to 600 mm (24 in) high. These flowers are usually pale to dark blue, but can sometimes be mauve, pink, or even white. They often have dark blue spots and can be up to 18 mm (0.7 in) wide.
Flower Parts
The center part of the flower, called the column, is pale pink at the bottom and dark purple near the top. It's about 3 to 6 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) long. The column has "arms" on its sides with thick tufts of white hairs. The part on top of the anther (which holds pollen) is dark purple and curves forward. It has a yellow, horseshoe-shaped top.
The spotted sun orchid usually flowers between October and February.
How Was It Named?
Thelymitra nervosa was first officially described in 1887 by a person named William Colenso. He found the plant near Mount Ruapehu in New Zealand. His description was published in 1888 in a scientific book called Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute.
The second part of its scientific name, nervosa, is a Latin word that means "sinewy" or "veined." Colenso noticed that the bracts (small leaf-like structures), sepals (outer flower parts), and petals (inner flower parts) of this orchid had many clear veins, which is why he chose that name.
Where Does It Live?
The spotted sun orchid likes to grow in sunny places. You can find it in forests, areas with scrub (bushes), and grasslands. It lives on the North, South, Stewart, and Chatham Islands of New Zealand.
