Southern leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern leek orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Prasophyllum
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| Species: |
australe
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The Prasophyllum australe, also called the southern leek orchid or austral leek orchid, is a type of orchid. It grows only in south-eastern Australia. This plant has one green, tube-shaped leaf. It can also have up to fifty flowers that smell nice. These flowers are greenish-brown with red stripes.
Contents
About the Southern Leek Orchid
The southern leek orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times. This plant has an underground tuber, which is like a storage part.
What the Plant Looks Like
The orchid has a single green leaf shaped like a tube. This leaf can grow up to 350 mm (10 in) long. It can be about 8 mm (0.3 in) wide near its reddish bottom.
The plant produces a thin stem, called a flowering spike. This spike can be 250–900 mm (10–40 in) tall. Up to fifty or more flowers grow along 60–200 mm (2–8 in) of this spike. The flowers are greenish-brown with reddish stripes. They often have a sweet smell.
Flower Parts
Like other orchids in its group, the flowers of Prasophyllum australe are upside down. This means a part called the labellum is above the column, not below it. The ovary is 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. It is pressed close to the flowering stem.
The side sepals of the flower are about 6 mm (0.2 in) long. They are joined together for most of their length. These sepals form the top part of the flower. The other sepals and the petals are similar in size and shape. They are lance-shaped or egg-shaped, about 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. The side sepals are joined at their edges.
The labellum is white and about 8 mm (0.3 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. It curves upwards and has wavy edges.
When it Flowers
This orchid blooms from September to January. It produces more flowers after a fire happened in the area the summer before.
How it Got its Name
Taxonomy and Naming
The Prasophyllum australe was first officially described in 1810. A botanist named Robert Brown wrote about it. His description was published in a book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.
The second part of its scientific name, australe, is a Latin word. It means "south." This name likely refers to where the plant is found.
Where the Orchid Grows
Distribution and Habitat
The southern leek orchid lives in wet, swampy areas. It grows in forests and open heathlands. You can find it in these parts of Australia:
- South-eastern Queensland
- Near the coast in New South Wales
- Southern Victoria
- South-eastern South Australia
- Tasmania
