Gawler Range rustyhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gawler Range rustyhood |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
ovata
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| Synonyms | |
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Oligochaetochilus mitchellii (M.A.Clem.) Szlach. |
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The Gawler Range rustyhood (Pterostylis ovata) is a special type of orchid. It belongs to the orchid family, Orchidaceae. This plant is found only in South Australia, which means it is endemic there.
Both young plants and those ready to flower have a rosette of leaves. This means their leaves grow in a circle close to the ground. When the plant flowers, it can have up to six unique blooms. These flowers have clear edges on their petals. They also have a striped, insect-like part called a labellum.
Contents
About the Gawler Range Rustyhood
The Gawler Range rustyhood is a plant that grows on the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant is a herb with a special underground part called a tuber.
Leaves and Flowers
Each plant has a rosette of three to seven leaves. These leaves are usually 15–50 mm (0.6–2 in) long. They are also 6–20 mm (0.2–0.8 in) wide. When the plant is about to flower, the leaves at its base often dry up.
The plant can grow up to six flowers. These flowers are a clear greenish-white color. They have markings that can be red, brown, or pink. The flowers are 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) long and 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide. They grow close together on a flowering stem. This stem can be 80–150 mm (3–6 in) tall.
Flower Parts
The top sepal and petals form a hood over the center of the flower. This hood is called a "galea". The petals have clear edges, or flanges, up to 10 mm (0.4 in) wide. The top sepal has a narrow tip that is 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long.
The side sepals point downwards. They are much wider than the galea. These sepals suddenly narrow into thin, parallel tips. These tips are 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long.
The Labellum
The labellum is a special part of the flower. It is reddish with darker stripes. It has a raised ridge in the middle. The labellum looks like an insect. It is 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The part that looks like the "body" of an insect has 16 to 20 short hairs on its sides. This orchid usually flowers in September and October.
Discovery and Naming
The Gawler Range rustyhood was first officially described in 1986. A scientist named Mark Clements described it. He used a plant grown at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. This plant came from material found near Lake Acraman.
The description was published in a book called Flora of South Australia. The second part of its scientific name, ovata, is a Latin word. It means "egg-shaped".
Where it Grows
The Gawler Range rustyhood grows in open areas. It is found on granite and quartzite rocks. These rocks are in the Gairdner-Torrens and Eyre Peninsula regions. Both regions are located in South Australia.
