Midland rustyhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Midland rustyhood |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
|
| Species: |
commutata
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Oligochaetochilus commutatus (D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
|
The midland rustyhood (Pterostylis commutata) is a special type of orchid plant. It belongs to the Orchidaceae family. This plant is only found in Tasmania, Australia.
It has a group of leaves that look like a circle near its base. Its flowers are a mix of white and green. They are also a bit see-through. Each flower has a fuzzy part called a labellum that looks like an insect. You can only find this rare orchid in a small area near Tunbridge and Ross.
What Does It Look Like?
The midland rustyhood is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. It is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It is also a deciduous plant, meaning its leaves fall off at certain times.
This plant usually has six to ten leaves. Each leaf is about 15–30 mm (0.6–1 in) long and 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. When the plant flowers, the leaves at its base might have already dried up.
The midland rustyhood can have up to five flowers on one stem. The flowering stem grows to be about 100–250 mm (4–10 in) tall. The flowers are mostly white with green marks. They are about 45–55 mm (1.8–2.2 in) long and 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide.
Each flower leans forward a little. There are also three or four leaves wrapped around the flowering stem. The top part of the flower, called the "galea," forms a hood over the center. This hood is made from the top sepal and petals. The top sepal has a thin, thread-like tip about 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long.
The side sepals are as wide as the galea. They are shaped like a dish and have very fuzzy edges. These sepals narrow quickly into thin, thread-like tips. These tips are about 15–30 mm (0.6–1 in) long and grow parallel to each other.
The labellum is a special part of the flower. It is green or brown and looks like a thin insect. It is about 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide. The edges of the labellum are wavy and have short, stiff hairs. There are also two longer hairs near the "head" end of the labellum. This orchid usually flowers in December and January.
How It Got Its Name
The scientific name for this orchid is Pterostylis commutata. It was first officially described in 1993 by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the plant near Ross. The description was published in a science journal called Muelleria.
The word commutata comes from a Latin word. It means 'changed'. This name was chosen because this orchid changed and became separate from other similar species after being isolated.
Where It Lives
The midland rustyhood grows in grassy woodlands. You can find it in specific areas near Tunbridge and Ross in Tasmania. It prefers these kinds of habitats.
Protecting This Plant
The midland rustyhood is a very rare plant. It is listed as "critically endangered" under a law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. It is also listed as "endangered" under Tasmania's own Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.
This orchid is only found in an area of about 75 km2 (30 sq mi). The biggest group of these plants has only seventeen individuals.
There are several things that threaten the survival of the midland rustyhood. These include farming activities that change its habitat. Other threats are changes to its natural environment and the spread of weeds. Weeds can take over the space and resources that the orchid needs to grow.
