King greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King greenhood |
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| Pterostylis baptistii in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne | |
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Pterostylis
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| Species: |
baptistii
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The King Greenhood (Pterostylis baptistii) is a special type of orchid that only grows in eastern Australia. When it blooms, it has a group of dark green leaves that look like a rosette (a circular pattern). It grows a single white flower with green and brown marks. This flower has a wide space between its petals and side parts called lateral sepals. You can find it mostly in New South Wales, but also along the coast of Queensland and in north-eastern Victoria.
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What the King Greenhood Looks Like
The King Greenhood is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (a swollen stem that stores food). It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times of the year.
Leaves and Flowers
When the plant is ready to flower, it grows a rosette of four to eight dark green leaves. Each leaf is about 3 to 8 centimeters (1.2 to 3.1 inches) long and 2 to 2.5 centimeters (0.8 to 1 inch) wide.
A single flower grows on a tall stem, about 20 to 40 centimeters (7.9 to 15.7 inches) high. The flower itself is 4 to 6 centimeters (1.6 to 2.4 inches) long and 2 to 3 centimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) wide. These flowers are white with green and brown markings.
Flower Parts
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, and the petals are joined together. They form a hood-like shape over the central part of the flower, which is called the column. The dorsal sepal curves forward and has a sharp tip. It is the same length as the petals.
There is a wide gap between the petals and the two side sepals. These side sepals have long, thin tips that curve backwards, about 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters (1 to 1.4 inches) long. The space between these side sepals is almost flat with a small dip in the middle. The labellum (which is like the orchid's "lip") is reddish-brown and sticks out. It is about 1.8 to 2.2 centimeters (0.7 to 0.9 inches) long and 0.5 to 0.6 centimeters (0.2 to 0.24 inches) wide. King Greenhoods usually flower from July to November.
How the King Greenhood Got Its Name
The King Greenhood was first officially described in 1875 by a botanist named Robert D. FitzGerald. He found a sample of the plant near Hen and Chicken Bay in Sydney. He wrote about it in his book, Australian Orchids.
The name baptistii comes from Baptist Gardens. This was a plant nursery in Surry Hills, New South Wales, which sent the original plant sample to FitzGerald. This sample is known as the type specimen.
Where the King Greenhood Lives
The King Greenhood mainly grows in areas along the coast. You can find it from southern Queensland, through New South Wales, and down to north-eastern Victoria. It likes to grow in moist or wet soil on sheltered slopes in forests and near swamps.
Protecting the King Greenhood
The King Greenhood is considered "vulnerable" in Victoria. This means it is a plant that needs special protection to make sure it doesn't disappear. It is protected under the Victorian Government's Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
