Ridley's jewel orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ridley's jewel orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Zeuxine
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| Species: |
exilis
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The Zeuxine exilis, also known as Ridley's jewel orchid or the slender jewel orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only on Christmas Island, which is a small island in the Indian Ocean. This orchid lives in the island's rainforests. It has a few egg-shaped leaves and small, reddish flowers. These flowers grow close together on a thin, hairy stem. This unique plant was first found in 1904. After that, it wasn't seen again for over 100 years, until 2009!
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What Does Ridley's Jewel Orchid Look Like?
Ridley's jewel orchid is a plant that grows from the ground, not on trees. It has a special underground part called a tuber, which helps it store food. This plant lives for many years. It usually has three or four light green leaves that are shaped like a spear. These leaves are about 30 to 70 millimeters (1 to 3 inches) long and 25 to 30 millimeters (1 inch) wide.
The orchid produces between ten and thirty flowers. These flowers are a dull reddish color with white parts called petals. Each flower is quite small, about 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) long and 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide. They grow closely packed on a thin, hairy stem that can be 170 to 240 millimeters (7 to 9 inches) tall. The outside of the flowers feels a bit fuzzy.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, is about 3 millimeters long. It forms a small hood over the center of the flower. The side sepals and petals are also small. The most interesting part is the labellum, which is a special petal. It is white with a yellow center and has two wavy parts at its end. This orchid usually blooms from July to September.
How Was This Orchid Named?
The Zeuxine exilis was officially described in 1906. It was named by a scientist named Dr Henry Ridley. He published his description in a science journal. The second part of its scientific name, exilis, comes from a Latin word. It means "thin" or "slender," which describes the plant's delicate stem.
The Orchid's Amazing Rediscovery Story
Christmas Island has very rough land, which made it hard for early scientists to explore. Charles William Andrews, a British scientist who studied old fossils, visited the island in 1897 and 1898. He found several orchids, but not the Z. exilis.
Then, in October 1904, Dr. Henry Ridley, who was the first director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, made his second trip to the island. He explored the higher parts of the island. On October 18, he found the orchid he later named Z. exilis. He wrote that it was "not rare" in the center of the island, growing among ferns.
After Dr. Ridley's discovery, the orchid was not officially seen again for more than 100 years! In 2002, a plan for Christmas Island National Park even thought it might be "possibly extinct." Other botanists, like Dulcie Alicia Powell and David J. Du Puy, searched for it in the 1980s and 1990s but couldn't find it.
Finally, in 2009, a visiting research scientist named Peter Green found the orchid again! His discovery was later confirmed by another expert, Mark Clements. This was a very exciting moment for scientists and conservationists.
Where Does Ridley's Jewel Orchid Live?
Ridley's jewel orchid is found only on Christmas Island. It grows on the ground, often among fallen leaves and other plant material, on the floor of the island's rainforests.
