Pink lip leek orchid facts for kids

The Pink Lip Leek Orchid (scientific name: Prasophyllum roseum) is a special kind of orchid. It grows only in southern Australia. This plant has a single leaf shaped like a tube. Its flowers are greenish and have a pretty pink "lip" (called a labellum). This orchid was only recently identified as its own species. Before, people thought it was the same as another orchid, P. fitzgeraldii. You can find it in the southeast of South Australia and western Victoria.

What Does It Look Like?

The Pink Lip Leek Orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). 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.

• Leaf: It has one pale green leaf that looks like a tube. This leaf can be from 150 to 400 millimeters (about 6 to 16 inches) long. It is about 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
• Flowers: The plant produces a tall stem with ten to thirty scented, greenish flowers. This stem can reach a height of 200 to 500 millimeters (about 8 to 20 inches). The flowers themselves are small, about 7 to 9 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide.
• Flower Parts:
  • Like many orchids, its flowers are upside down! This means the "lip" (labellum) is at the top instead of the bottom.
  • The top part, called the dorsal sepal, is shaped like a spear or egg. It's about 4 to 6 millimeters long.
  • The side parts, called lateral sepals, are narrow and spread out a bit. They are also 4 to 6 millimeters long.
  • The petals are oblong, about 4 to 5 millimeters long.
• The Pink Lip: The most noticeable part is the labellum, which is usually pale to deep pink. Sometimes, it can even be white! It's about 5 millimeters long and bends sharply upwards. The edges of the upturned part are wavy and have tiny hair-like bumps. There's also a shiny, yellowish-green bump (called a callus) in the middle of the labellum.
• Flowering Time: These orchids mostly bloom in late September and early October. Their beautiful flowers only last for two or three days.

How It Got Its Name

The Prasophyllum roseum was officially named in 2017. Two botanists, David Jones and Robert Bates, described it. They published their findings in a magazine called Australian Orchid Review.

The second part of its scientific name, roseum, comes from a Latin word. It means "of roses," which refers to the lovely pink color of the orchid's labellum.

Where Does It Live?

The Pink Lip Leek Orchid prefers to grow in damp, open woodlands and forests. You can find it in the southeastern part of South Australia. It also grows in western Victoria, near towns like Edenhope, Nhill, and Stawell.