Barrington Tops leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barrington Tops leek orchid |
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The Barrington Tops leek orchid (Prasophyllum rogersii) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in New South Wales, Australia. This unique plant has a single leaf that looks like a tube. It also produces beautiful reddish-brown flowers. You can find it in only a few high-up places.
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What Does the Barrington Tops Leek Orchid Look Like?
The Barrington Tops leek orchid is a herb. This means it is a plant that does not have a woody stem. It grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage organ. It is also a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years.
This orchid has one leaf that looks like a tube. This leaf can be about 15 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) long. It is also about 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide.
The Flowers of the Leek Orchid
Each plant can have between five and twenty-five flowers. These flowers grow close together on a tall stem called a flowering spike. The spike is usually 7 to 12 centimeters (2.8 to 4.7 inches) long. The whole plant can reach a height of 20 to 30 centimeters (7.9 to 12 inches).
The flowers are usually reddish-brown or orange-brown. Like other orchids in its group, these flowers are upside down. This means the labellum (a special lip-like petal) is above the column (the central part of the flower) instead of below it.
Parts of the Orchid Flower
The dorsal sepal is a leaf-like part at the back of the flower. It is egg-shaped or spear-shaped, about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.20 to 0.24 inches) long. The lateral sepals are two other leaf-like parts. They are about 7 millimeters (0.28 inches) long and grow side-by-side.
The petals of the flower are about 5 millimeters (0.20 inches) long. They curve forward. The labellum is white and egg-shaped. It is about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.20 to 0.24 inches) long and 5 millimeters (0.20 inches) wide. It turns sharply upwards and has crinkled edges. In the middle of the labellum, there is a raised, shiny part called a callus. This callus extends almost to the tip of the labellum.
The Barrington Tops leek orchid blooms in December and January.
How Did the Barrington Tops Leek Orchid Get Its Name?
The scientific name for this orchid is Prasophyllum rogersii. It was first officially described in 1928. This description was made by a botanist named Herman Rupp. He published his findings in a scientific paper.
The second part of its name, rogersii, was chosen to honor Richard Sanders Rogers. Richard Sanders Rogers was a very important expert in Australian orchids. Herman Rupp called him "our recognized leader in the field of Australian orchidology."
Where Does the Barrington Tops Leek Orchid Live?
The Barrington Tops leek orchid grows in damp, grassy areas. You can find it in the Barrington Tops National Park. It prefers habitats that are high up in the mountains. These areas are known as montane (mountainous) to subalpine (just below the tree line) zones.
