Curled-tongue shell orchid facts for kids

The Pterostylis rogersii, also called the curled-tongue shell orchid, is a unique type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west of Western Australia. Like other similar orchids, its look changes depending on if it's flowering or not. Plants that are not flowering have a group of leaves shaped like a circle, called a rosette. But flowering plants have just one flower with leaves on its stem. This greenhood orchid usually has a white flower with reddish-brown stripes. It also has a long, curved part called a labellum. You can find it along the south coast, between Binningup and Esperance.

About the Curled-tongue Shell Orchid

The Pterostylis rogersii is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times. This plant is a herb with a special underground stem called a tuber.

When the orchid is not flowering, it has a rosette of flat, bluish-green leaves. Each leaf is about 5 to 15 mm (0.2 to 0.6 inches) long. They are also about 4 to 12 mm (0.16 to 0.47 inches) wide.

How the Flower Looks

Flowering plants usually have a single flower. This flower is about 25 to 35 mm (1.0 to 1.4 inches) long. It is also about 9 to 12 mm (0.35 to 0.47 inches) wide. The flower grows on a stem that is about 70 to 200 mm (2.8 to 7.9 inches) tall. There are also three to five leaves on the stem. These stem leaves are about 20 to 70 mm (0.79 to 2.76 inches) long. They are about 2 to 8 mm (0.08 to 0.31 inches) wide.

The flowers are mostly white with reddish-brown stripes. Sometimes, they can have green stripes instead. The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, and the petals are joined together. They form a hood, or "galea," over the central part of the flower, which is called the column. The dorsal sepal curves forward and has a sharp, pointed tip.

The side parts, called the lateral sepals, stand upright. There is a small space between them and the galea. Their ends are like thin threads, about 20 to 25 mm (0.79 to 0.98 inches) long. At their bases, there is a deep, V-shaped dip called a sinus.

The labellum is a special lip-like part of the flower. It is about 15 to 20 mm (0.59 to 0.79 inches) long and 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 inches) wide. This labellum is reddish-brown and is curved or curled. It sticks out above the sinus. These orchids usually bloom from June to August.

Naming the Curled-tongue Shell Orchid

The scientific name for this orchid, Pterostylis rogersii, was first officially described in 1930. A scientist named Edith Coleman wrote about it. Her description was published in a magazine called The Victorian Naturalist. She studied plants collected near Bunbury and Collie.

The second part of the name, rogersii, is called the specific epithet. It was chosen to honor Richard Sanders Rogers. Edith Coleman named it after him because the new species was "abundant and beautiful."

Where the Orchid Lives

The curled-tongue shell orchid grows in a narrow strip along the coast. You can find it between Binningup and Esperance. This area includes different natural regions. These regions are the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, and Warren biogeographic regions.

Protecting the Orchid

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the Pterostylis rogersii. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.