Crowded leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crowded leek orchid |
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The crowded leek orchid (Prasophyllum crebriflorum) is a special kind of orchid that grows only in Tasmania, Australia. It has a single dark green leaf that looks like a tube, with a purplish bottom. This orchid can have up to twenty-five reddish-brown flowers. It's quite rare and is only found in four small areas high up in the mountains.
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What Does the Crowded Leek Orchid Look Like?
The crowded leek orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, which means its leaves fall off at certain times of the year.
Each orchid has one tube-shaped, dark green leaf. This leaf can be about 12 to 26 centimeters (5 to 10 inches) long and 2 to 5 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. The top part of the leaf, which is free from the stem, is usually 6 to 10 centimeters (2.4 to 3.9 inches) long.
The flowers grow on a stem that is 6 to 12 centimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) long. There are usually between six and twenty-five flowers, and they are "crowded" together on the stem. The flowers are reddish-brown and open wide, measuring about 10 to 12 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) across.
Like other orchids in its group, the flowers of the crowded leek orchid are upside down. This means the labellum (a special lip-like petal) is above the column (the part that holds the pollen) instead of below it.
- The dorsal sepal (the top part of the flower) is shaped like a spear or a narrow egg. It's about 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide.
- The lateral sepals (the side parts) are narrow and straight, about 7 millimeters (0.3 inches) long and 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. They stand upright and parallel to each other.
- The petals are very narrow, about 6 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide. They curve upwards and are spread far apart.
- The labellum (the lip) is 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. It curves upwards and has slightly wavy edges. In the middle of the labellum, there's a greenish, fleshy part called a callus.
This orchid usually flowers from early December to January.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The crowded leek orchid, Prasophyllum crebriflorum, was officially named in 2003 by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the plant near a place called Guildford.
The second part of its scientific name, crebriflorum, comes from two Latin words:
- creber, which means "close" or "crowded"
- flos, which means "flower"
So, its name perfectly describes how its flowers are crowded together!
Where Does the Crowded Leek Orchid Live?
The crowded leek orchid is very rare. It's only found in four small groups of plants. Two of these groups grow on the Central Plateau in Tasmania, and the other two are in the north-west part of the state. All these places are on private land and are at high elevations (high up in the mountains). It prefers to grow in grassy areas.
Why Is It Endangered?
The crowded leek orchid is considered Endangered. This means it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever. It's protected by two important laws:
- The Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995
- The Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act, which is a law designed to protect plants and animals.
The main reasons why this orchid is in danger are:
- Land clearing: When land is cleared for building or farming, the orchid's habitat is destroyed.
- Grazing by livestock: Animals like cows or sheep eating the plants can harm them.
- Inappropriate fire regimes: Fires that happen too often, not often enough, or at the wrong time can damage the orchid's environment.
