Water-spider bog orchid facts for kids
Habenaria repens, also known as the water-spider bog orchid or the floating orchid, is a unique type of orchid. This plant is found in many places, from Mexico and the Caribbean all the way down to Argentina in Latin America. You can also spot it in the Southeastern United States, from Texas and Oklahoma across to Florida and the Carolinas. There's even a small group of them growing in Virginia!
Quick facts for kids Water-spider bog orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Habenaria
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| Species: |
repens
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About the Water-Spider Orchid
This special orchid gets its common names from how it looks and where it lives. The "water-spider" part might come from its long, thin petals that look a bit like spider legs. The "floating orchid" name makes sense because it often grows in wet, marshy areas. Sometimes it even floats on the water!
How It Protects Itself
Habenaria repens has a clever way to stay safe from animals that might want to eat it. It produces a special natural chemical called habenariol. This chemical acts like a warning sign. It makes the plant taste bad to animals, so they usually leave it alone. This is how the orchid protects itself from being eaten.
Different Types of Habenaria repens
Even though it's one species, there are a couple of slightly different types, or varieties, of Habenaria repens. As of 2014, scientists recognize two main varieties:
- Habenaria repens var. maxillaris: This variety is found in places like Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
- Habenaria repens var. repens: This is the most common variety. It grows in most of the areas where the species is found, including some of the same regions as var. maxillaris.
