Painted rufous greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Painted rufous greenhood |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
picta
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| Synonyms | |
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Oligochaetochilus pictus (M.A.Clem.) Szlach. |
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The painted rufous greenhood (scientific name: Pterostylis picta) is a special kind of plant. It belongs to the amazing orchid family. This plant is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. When it's not flowering, it has a group of leaves that look like a rosette (a circular pattern). When it does flower, it can have up to seven beautiful, see-through white flowers. These flowers have cool green and brown stripes. They also have a unique, fleshy part called a labellum that looks a bit like an insect!
What Does It Look Like?
The painted rufous greenhood is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant has a rosette of about six to twelve leaves. Each leaf is about 15 to 45 millimeters (0.6 to 1.8 inches) long and 7 to 20 millimeters (0.3 to 0.8 inches) wide.
When the plant flowers, it grows a tall stem, usually 150 to 500 millimeters (6 to 20 inches) high. The leaves at the base often dry up by the time the flowers appear. Up to seven or more flowers grow on this stem. They are a see-through white color with green and brown stripes. Each flower is about 30 to 35 millimeters (1.2 to 1.4 inches) long and 7 to 9 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, and the petals form a hood. This hood covers the central part of the flower. The dorsal sepal has a narrow tip that is about 6 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. The side sepals point downwards and then spread apart. They have narrow tips that are about 10 to 13 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long.
The most interesting part is the labellum. It's brown, thick, and looks like an insect! It's about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide. This labellum is covered with short hairs, and it has longer hairs along its edges. You can see these flowers blooming from September to November.
How It Got Its Name
The painted rufous greenhood was officially named Pterostylis picta in 1989. A scientist named Mark Clements first described it from a plant he found near Moora. He published his description in a scientific book called Australian Orchid Research.
The second part of its scientific name, picta, comes from a Latin word. It means "painted" or "colored." This name was chosen because of the pretty stripes and markings on the flowers.
Where Does It Live?
This unique orchid grows in different places in Western Australia. You can find it in woodlands and shrublands. It also likes to grow in shallow soil on top of granite rocks. Its home stretches from Kalbarri in the north down to Woodanilling in the south.
Keeping It Safe
Good news! The painted rufous greenhood is currently considered "not threatened." This means it's not in danger of disappearing. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps an eye on its numbers to make sure it stays safe.
