Brandy Mary's leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brandy Mary's leek orchid |
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The Brandy Mary's leek orchid (scientific name: Prasophyllum innubum) is a very special type of orchid. It only grows in a small area of New South Wales, Australia. This orchid has a single bright green leaf shaped like a tube. It also has brownish-green, white, and purplish flowers.
This orchid is extremely rare. Scientists know of only about 400 plants left in the wild.
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What Does the Brandy Mary's Leek Orchid Look Like?
The Brandy Mary's leek orchid is a plant that grows on the ground. It lives for many years. It has a special underground part called a tuber, which helps it store food.
Each plant has one bright green leaf. This leaf is shaped like a tube. It can be 20 to 50 centimeters (about 8 to 20 inches) long. The top part of the leaf, which stands freely, is about 7 to 15 centimeters (about 3 to 6 inches) long.
Flowers of the Leek Orchid
This orchid grows between six and twenty flowers. These flowers are found along a stem that is 5 to 8 centimeters (about 2 to 3 inches) long. The flowers are brownish-green, white, and purplish.
Like other orchids in its group, the flowers are upside down. This means their special lip-like petal, called the labellum, is above the central part (the column) instead of below it.
The part of the flower that holds the seeds, called the ovary, is shiny green. It is shaped like an oval and is about 4 to 6 millimeters (about 0.16 to 0.24 inches) long.
Flower Parts
- The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped. It is about 5 to 6 millimeters (about 0.20 to 0.24 inches) long. It points forward and then downwards.
- The lateral sepals are narrow and joined together. They are also about 5 to 6 millimeters (about 0.20 to 0.24 inches) long.
- The petals are mostly narrow. They are about 6 to 7 millimeters (about 0.24 to 0.28 inches) long. They often have a pink or purplish stripe.
- The labellum (the lip petal) is oblong and can be white or pink. It is about 7 to 9 millimeters (about 0.28 to 0.35 inches) long. This labellum turns upwards sharply in the middle. Its edges are wavy. There is a green or whitish raised area, called a callus, in its center.
The Brandy Mary's leek orchid usually flowers in January and February.
How Was it Named?
The Brandy Mary's leek orchid was officially described in 2007. It was named by a botanist named David Jones. He wrote about it in a magazine called The Orchadian.
The first plant used to describe the species was found near a place called Brandy Marys. This area is in the Bago State Forest, close to Blowering Dam. The scientific name innubum comes from a Latin word. It means "unmarried."
Where Does This Orchid Live?
The Brandy Mary's leek orchid grows along the edges of streams. It is found in a very small area in New South Wales. This area is near the towns of Cabramurra and Talbingo.
Why is This Orchid Endangered?
The Brandy Mary's leek orchid is listed as "Critically Endangered." This means it is at very high risk of disappearing forever. Both the Australian government and the New South Wales government protect it under special laws. These laws are the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act and the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
Threats to the Orchid
Several things threaten the survival of this rare orchid:
- Logging: Cutting down trees in its habitat.
- Changes in water: Dams that store water can change how water flows in streams. This affects the orchid's home.
- Grazing animals: Farm animals like cows and wild animals like horses and pigs eat the plants.
- Weed invasion: Other plants (weeds) grow and take over the orchid's space.
Sadly, the areas where this orchid lives are not protected in a special conservation reserve.
