Toothed helmet orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toothed helmet orchid |
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The toothed helmet orchid (scientific name: Corybas pruinosus) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in New South Wales, Australia. It's called a "terrestrial" orchid because it grows in the ground, not on trees. This small plant lives in moist forests. It has a single, round or heart-shaped leaf. Its flower is a bit see-through and grey, with cool dark red marks.
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What Does the Toothed Helmet Orchid Look Like?
The toothed helmet orchid is a plant that grows in the ground. It is a plant that lives for many years. It is also deciduous, meaning its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant is a herb, which means it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree.
Each orchid has just one leaf. This leaf is either round or shaped like a heart. It can be about 8–30 mm (0.3–1 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) wide. The top of the leaf is green, and the bottom is a shiny silvery-green.
The orchid has one flower that looks a bit see-through and grey. It has dark red markings. The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, curves forward. It is about 20–28 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide. It covers the main lip of the flower.
Flower Parts
The side sepals are thin and straight. They are about 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. The petals are small, about 6 mm (0.2 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. They often have two points at their tips.
The main lip of the flower is called the labellum. It is about 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. It has a greyish bump in the middle. The labellum also has many short bristles. Its edges have many long, narrow teeth, which is why it is called the "toothed" helmet orchid.
This orchid usually blooms from April to July.
How the Toothed Helmet Orchid Got Its Name
The toothed helmet orchid was first officially described in 1871. A botanist named Richard Cunningham gave it the name Corysanthes pruinosa. He published his description in a magazine called the New South Wales Magazine.
Later in 1871, another botanist, Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach, changed its name. He renamed it Corybas pruinosus. The second part of its scientific name, pruinosus, comes from a Latin word. This Latin word means "frosty" or "rimy," like when something is covered in a light frost.
Where Does the Toothed Helmet Orchid Live?
The toothed helmet orchid grows in forests. It likes areas with shrubs. You can find this special orchid in New South Wales, Australia. It grows in a region between towns like Nelson Bay, Moruya, and Paterson.
