Narrow-sepalled leafy greenhood facts for kids

The narrow-sepalled leafy greenhood (Pterostylis stenosepala) is a special type of orchid plant. It grows only in New South Wales, Australia. This means it is endemic there, found nowhere else in the world naturally!

When it blooms, it has up to six shiny, see-through green flowers. These flowers often have darker green stripes. Each flower has a part called a labellum, which looks a bit like an insect. It's green with a dark green bump at the top.

Plants that are not flowering have a group of leaves shaped like a rose, called a rosette. These leaves grow on a small stem. But when the plant flowers, it doesn't have this rosette. Instead, it has four to eight leaves growing along its main stem.

What is the Narrow-Sepalled Leafy Greenhood?

The narrow-sepalled leafy greenhood is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. A tuber is like a small, round storage organ, similar to a potato. This plant is a terrestrial plant, meaning it grows in the ground.

It is also a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It is a deciduous herb, which means its leaves fall off at certain times of the year.

Leaves of the Greenhood Orchid

If the plant is not flowering, it has a rosette of leaves. These leaves are about 12 to 35 mm (0.5–1.4 in) long. They are also about 5 to 9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. This rosette grows on a stalk that is 20 to 40 mm (0.8–1.6 in) tall.

When the plant is flowering, it does not have the rosette of leaves. Instead, it has between four and eight leaves on its main stem. These stem leaves are 15 to 50 mm (0.6–2.0 in) long. They are also 4 to 7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide.

Flowers of the Greenhood Orchid

Flowering plants can have up to six shiny, see-through green flowers. These flowers have darker green stripes. They grow on a tall stem called a flowering spike. This spike can be 100 to 350 mm (3.9–13.8 in) high.

The top part of the flower is called the dorsal sepal. It joins with the petals to form a hood. This hood is called a "galea" and it covers the column. The column is a special part of the orchid flower. The petals have a wide, clear edge.

The lower parts of the flower are called the lateral sepals. They point downwards. These sepals are 12 to 14 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 5 to 6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. They are joined together for part of their length. Their tips are a greenish-yellow color.

The labellum is a special part of the flower that looks like an insect. It is 7 to 8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long. It is about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. It has a dark green bump at its "head" end. This orchid usually flowers from August to October.

How the Greenhood Orchid Got Its Name

This greenhood orchid was first officially described in 2006. It was named Bunochilus stenosapalus by a scientist named David Jones. He wrote about it in a book called Australian Orchid Research. The plant he studied came from Conimbla National Park.

Later, in 2010, another scientist named Gary Backhouse changed its name. He renamed it Pterostylis stenosepala.

The second part of the plant's scientific name, stenosepala, tells us something about it. It comes from two old words. Stenos is an Ancient Greek word meaning "narrow". Sepalum is a New Latin word meaning "sepal". So, the name stenosepala refers to the plant's narrow lateral sepals.

Where Does the Greenhood Orchid Grow?

The narrow-sepalled leafy greenhood grows in forests. It likes to grow where there are grasses or shrubs. You can find this orchid near the towns of Orange and Cowra. These areas are in the Central Tablelands and Central West Slopes regions of New South Wales.