King leek orchid facts for kids

The Prasophyllum regium, also known as the king leek orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This amazing plant has a single, very thick leaf that looks like a tube. It can also grow many flowers, sometimes up to one hundred! These flowers are usually greenish-brown or a deep burgundy color. The king leek orchid is one of the tallest leek orchids, sometimes reaching a height of 2 m (7 ft) – that's taller than most grown-ups!

About the King Leek Orchid

The king leek orchid is a plant that grows from the ground, not on other plants or trees. It's a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times of the year, and it's a herb (meaning it doesn't have a woody stem like a tree). This orchid grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small, round storage part.

It has one thick, tube-shaped leaf that can be green or almost black. This leaf can grow to be 500–1,500 mm (20–60 in) long and 10–16 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.

Flowers of the King Leek Orchid

The flowers of the king leek orchid grow on a tall stem called a flowering spike. This spike can be 90–500 mm (4–20 in) long, and the whole plant can reach a height of 500–2,000 mm (20–80 in). You can find between fifty and one hundred or even more flowers on one spike!

The flowers are usually greenish-brown to burgundy. Each flower is 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in) long and about 15 mm (0.6 in) wide. What's cool about these orchids is that their flowers are "inverted." This means the labellum (which is a special lip-like petal) is on top, instead of at the bottom like in most flowers.

Let's look closer at the flower parts:

• The dorsal sepal (the top outer leaf-like part) is 11–16 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide.
• The lateral sepals (the two side outer parts) are 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. They are joined together.
• The petals (the inner, often colorful parts) are 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide, and they curve forward.
• The labellum (the special lip) is 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. It sharply bends upwards in the middle, and its edges can be crinkled or wavy.
• A thick, shiny green part called a callus covers most of the labellum.

You can see these beautiful flowers blooming from September to December.

Naming the King Leek Orchid

The king leek orchid was officially named Prasophyllum regium in 1918. It was first described by a scientist named Richard Sanders Rogers. He found a sample of the plant near a place called Manjimup. The description was then published in a scientific report called Transactions, proceedings and report, Royal Society of South Australia.

The second part of its scientific name, regium, comes from a Latin word. It means "kingly" or "royal." This name was chosen because of how tall its flowering stem can grow, making it look like a king among plants!

Where it Lives

The king leek orchid grows in Western Australia, in the area between the cities of Perth and Albany. You can find it in different types of natural areas, including the Jarrah Forest, the Swan Coastal Plain, and the Warren biogeographic regions. It's quite adaptable and can grow in many places, from swamps that are wet only part of the year to thick forests.

Looking After the King Leek Orchid

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed Prasophyllum regium as "Not Threatened." This is good news, as it means the plant is not currently in danger of disappearing.