Hooded leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hooded leek orchid |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Subtribe: | Prasophyllinae |
| Genus: | Prasophyllum |
| Species: |
P. cucullatum
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| Binomial name | |
| Prasophyllum cucullatum Rchb.f.
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| Synonyms | |
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Chiloterus cucullatus (Rchb.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Prasophyllum cucullatum, also known as the hooded leek orchid, is a unique type of orchid. It is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This orchid is quite tall and has a single smooth, tube-shaped leaf. Its flowers are purplish-red and white, and they have a frilly part called a labellum. Many of these flowers grow close together on a short stem.
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What the Hooded Leek Orchid Looks Like
The Hooded Leek Orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, which means it sheds its leaves at certain times. This plant is a herb with a special underground tuber (like a small potato).
It has one smooth, green, tube-shaped leaf. This leaf is about 100 to 150 mm (4 to 6 inches) long and 3 to 6 mm (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
Flowers of the Hooded Leek Orchid
The orchid's flowers grow on a stem that is about 50 to 200 mm (2 to 8 inches) tall. There can be anywhere from ten to fifty or even more flowers on one stem. Each flower is purplish-red and white. They are about 7 mm (0.3 inches) long and 6 mm (0.2 inches) wide.
Like other orchids in its group, these flowers are upside down. This means the labellum (a special lip-like petal) is above the column (the central part of the flower) instead of below it. The top petal, called the dorsal sepal, is wide. The other petals and the hood-like side sepals face forward. The labellum is mostly white and has frilly edges. It turns upwards towards the side sepals. These orchids usually bloom from August to October.
How the Hooded Leek Orchid Got Its Name
The Hooded Leek Orchid was first officially described in 1871. A scientist named Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach described it. He used samples collected in 1840 near Albany by Charles von Hügel.
The description was published in a book called Beitrage zur Systematischen Pflanzenkunde. The second part of its scientific name, cucullatum, is a Latin word. It means "hooded." This name refers to the hood-like shape made by the side sepals of the flower.
Where the Hooded Leek Orchid Lives
The Hooded Leek Orchid grows in areas with shrubs. It also likes to grow in shallow soil found on top of granite rocks. You can find it in Western Australia, from Margaret River to Israelite Bay. These areas include the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, and Warren regions.
Protecting the Hooded Leek Orchid
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the Hooded Leek Orchid. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these orchids, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
