Upright tangle orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Upright tangle orchid |
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The upright tangle orchid, also known as Plectorrhiza erecta, is a special type of orchid. It grows on other plants or rocks, not in the soil. This orchid has many thick, rope-like roots. It also has bright green leaves. Its flowers are yellowish-orange and shaped like cups. They often have purple spots. You can find this orchid growing near the ground. It likes to grow on trees with stringy bark. This unique plant only lives on Lord Howe Island.
What the Upright Tangle Orchid Looks Like
The upright tangle orchid is a plant that stands tall. It grows on other plants (this is called an epiphyte). It can also grow on rocks (this is called a lithophyte). It has many long, tangled roots that hang in the air. These roots grow from the bottom of its stem. The stem can be from 100 to 600 millimeters (about 4 to 24 inches) long.
This orchid has many bright green leaves. They are a bit thick and feel like leather. The leaves are shaped like narrow eggs or are oblong. They are usually 30 to 45 millimeters (about 1 to 1.8 inches) long. They are also 12 to 18 millimeters (about 0.5 to 0.7 inches) wide.
The orchid produces two to five flowers. These flowers are yellowish-orange with purplish-brown spots. Each flower is 8 to 10 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. They are also 6 to 8 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. The flowers grow on a stem that is 30 to 40 millimeters (about 1.2 to 1.6 inches) long.
The flower parts called sepals and petals are thick. They are 3 to 4 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.16 inches) long. They are about 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) wide and curve inwards. The labellum is a special lip-like part of the flower. It is white or cream-colored. It is about 6 millimeters (0.24 inches) long and 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) wide. The sides of the labellum are hairy. The middle part is blunt. It has a straight spur that is about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long. The column (another part of the flower) is purple. This orchid blooms from October to December.
How the Upright Tangle Orchid Got Its Name
The upright tangle orchid was first described in 1878. A person named Robert D. FitzGerald gave it its first name, Cleisostoma erectum. He wrote about it in his book, Australian Orchids.
Later, in 1967, Alick Dockrill changed its name. He renamed it Plectorrhiza erecta. The second part of its scientific name, erecta, comes from a Latin word. It means "upright," which describes how the plant grows.
Where the Upright Tangle Orchid Lives
The Plectorrhiza erecta orchid grows close to the ground. It likes to attach its roots to the stringy bark of trees and shrubs. Its roots spread out over the bark. They also grow on fallen leaves and nearby rocks. You can find this orchid near the coast. It also grows at higher places, up to 530 meters (about 1,740 feet) high. It only lives on Lord Howe Island.
