Green-veined shell orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green-veined shell orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
scabra
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| Synonyms | |
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Diplodium scabrum (Lindl.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The green-veined shell orchid (scientific name: Pterostylis scabra) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
Like some other orchids, this plant looks different depending on whether it is flowering or not. When it's not flowering, it has a flat group of leaves called a rosette. But when it's ready to bloom, the rosette disappears. Instead, a single flower grows on a stem with leaves along it.
This orchid is often called a "greenhood" because of its hooded shape. Its flower is white with green and light brownish stripes. It also has a long, curved part called a labellum that sticks out. You can find this orchid in areas away from the coast, between the towns of Kalbarri and Esperance.
Contents
What the Green-Veined Shell Orchid Looks Like
The green-veined shell orchid is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous herb, so its leaves die back each year. It has an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root.
When the plant is not flowering, it has a flat group of leaves, or a rosette, on the ground. Each leaf is about 1 to 4 centimeters (0.4 to 1.6 inches) long and 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) wide.
When it flowers, a single bloom appears on a stem that can be 6 to 18 centimeters (2.4 to 7.1 inches) tall. The flower itself is about 3 to 4 centimeters (1.2 to 1.6 inches) long and 1 to 1.2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) wide. The flowers are white with green and light brownish stripes.
Flower Parts and Shape
The top part of the flower, made from the dorsal sepal and petals, forms a hood. This hood covers the column, which is the central part of the orchid flower. The dorsal sepal curves forward and has a short, pointed tip.
The lateral sepals stand upright with a small space between them and the hood. They have long, thread-like ends that are about 3 to 3.5 centimeters (1.2 to 1.4 inches) long. The labellum is a long, narrow, and curved part that sticks out clearly from the flower. This orchid usually flowers from May to August.
Naming the Green-Veined Shell Orchid
The green-veined shell orchid was first officially described in 1840 by a botanist named John Lindley. He published his description in a book called A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.
The scientific name scabra comes from a Latin word meaning "rough" or "scabby." This name refers to the slightly rough surface of the orchid's labellum.
Where the Green-Veined Shell Orchid Grows
You can find the green-veined shell orchid in inland areas of Western Australia. It grows between Kalbarri and Esperance. This includes several different natural areas like the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, and Mallee regions.
Habitat Preferences
This orchid often grows in moist, shady spots, sometimes near streams that only flow part of the year. It can also be found in woodlands and on large granite rocks.
Protecting the Green-Veined Shell Orchid
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Pterostylis scabra as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these orchids in the wild, and they are not considered to be in danger.
