White mignonette orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White mignonette orchid |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Microtis (plant)
|
| Species: |
alba
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The white mignonette orchid, also called the slender onion-orchid, is a special type of orchid. Its scientific name is Microtis alba. This plant only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. It has a single leaf that looks like a hollow onion. It can grow up to sixty small flowers that are green and white. These flowers have a strong, musky smell. You'll often see many more of these orchids growing after a bushfire has happened the summer before.
Contents
What Does the White Mignonette Orchid Look Like?
The white mignonette orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It also loses its leaves each year, which is called being deciduous. This plant has a special underground part called a tuber, which is like a storage organ.
It grows a single, smooth, tube-shaped leaf. This leaf stands straight up and can be from 100 to 500 millimeters (about 4 to 20 inches) long. It is about 7 to 10 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide.
Flowers and Scent
The plant produces a tall flowering stem, which can be 200 to 800 millimeters (about 8 to 31 inches) tall. Along this stem, you'll find between ten and sixty small flowers. These flowers are green and white and have a strong, musky smell.
Each flower hangs downwards and is about 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. They are also about 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, forms a small hood. The other parts, like the petals and labellum, are also very small.
When Does It Bloom?
These orchids usually bloom from October to January. However, you will see many more flowers if there was a bushfire in the area the summer before.
How Was It Named?
The white mignonette orchid was first officially described in 1810. A famous botanist named Robert Brown gave it its scientific name, Microtis alba. He published his description in a book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.
The second part of its scientific name, alba, is a Latin word. It means "white," which describes the color of its flowers.
Where Does It Grow?
The white mignonette orchid can be found in many different places. It grows in areas that are wet during certain seasons, and also in forests. You can find it in Western Australia, from a town called Dongara all the way to Israelite Bay.
Is It Endangered?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked into the status of Microtis alba. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means the white mignonette orchid is not currently at risk of disappearing.
