Kelton's leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kelton's leek orchid |
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Prasophyllum keltonii, also known as Kelton's leek orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in a small part of New South Wales, Australia. This orchid has a single, bright green leaf shaped like a tube. It can have up to twenty-two scented flowers that are green, brownish-red, or purplish. Kelton's leek orchid is very rare, with only a few hundred plants left in the world.
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What Kelton's Leek Orchid Looks Like
Kelton's leek orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root. It has one bright green, tube-shaped leaf. This leaf can be about 200–350 mm (8–10 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The top part of the leaf is usually 80–150 mm (3–6 in) long.
This orchid produces between twelve and twenty-two flowers on a stem. The stem is about 50–90 mm (2–4 in) long. The flowers can be green, brownish-red, or purplish. Like other leek orchids, their flowers are upside down. This means the labellum (a special lip-like petal) is above the column (the central part of the flower).
The top petal, called the dorsal sepal, is egg-shaped and about 8 mm (0.3 in) long. It points downwards and has three darker stripes. The side petals, called lateral sepals, are long and narrow, about 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. They are separate from each other. The other petals are also long and narrow, about 7–8.5 mm (0.28–0.33 in) long. They curve forward at their tips.
The labellum is shaped like an egg or a spear, about 7 mm (0.3 in) long. It turns upwards in the middle. The edges of the labellum are smooth. There is a wide, green or reddish bump in its center, called a callus. This orchid usually flowers in December and January.
How Kelton's Leek Orchid Got Its Name
The scientific name for this orchid, Prasophyllum keltonii, was officially given in 2007. It was described by a botanist named David Jones. He wrote about it in a magazine called The Orchadian.
The name keltonii was chosen to honor Peter Branwhite. He was one of the people who first collected a sample of this orchid. This first sample is called the type specimen. It helps scientists identify other plants of the same species.
Where Kelton's Leek Orchid Lives
Kelton's leek orchid grows in a special place called McPhersons Plain. This area is near Cabramurra and Talbingo in New South Wales. It's a small, treeless area where tall sphagnum moss and heath plants grow.
The entire group of these orchids lives in an area smaller than 1 ha (0.01 km2). Sadly, the number of these plants has gone down. In 2004, there were about four hundred plants, but now there are fewer.
Protecting Kelton's Leek Orchid
Kelton's leek orchid is in a lot of trouble. It is listed as "Critically Endangered" by the Australian government. This means it is at very high risk of disappearing forever. The New South Wales government also lists it as endangered.
Many things threaten this orchid. These include:
- Logging: Cutting down trees in the area.
- Changes in water: How water flows can change because of dams, like the Blowering Dam, which affects the orchid's habitat.
- Grazing animals: Farm animals like cattle and wild animals like horses and pigs eat the plants.
- Weeds: Other plants that are not native to the area can grow and take over the orchid's space.
The area where these orchids grow is not a special protected park or reserve. This makes it harder to keep them safe.
