Chestnut leek orchid facts for kids
The chestnut leek orchid (scientific name: Prasophyllum castaneum) is a special type of orchid. It only grows in Tasmania, an island in Australia. This orchid has a single dark green leaf that looks like a tube, with a purplish bottom. It grows about ten to twenty flowers that are a lovely chestnut or dark brown color. Back in 2000, scientists thought there were only about fifty of these plants left in the world.
Quick facts for kids Chestnut leek orchid |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification |
What Does It Look Like?
The chestnut leek orchid is a plant that grows on land. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so some parts might die back in certain seasons.
This orchid has a single leaf that is shaped like a tube. The leaf is dark green to brownish-green. It can be from 80 to 400 mm (3 to 16 in) long and 3 to 4 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) wide. The very bottom of the leaf is a dark purplish-red color.
The plant grows a thin stem, called a flowering spike, which is 80 to 120 mm (3 to 5 in) long. Along this stem, ten to twenty flowers grow. These flowers are chestnut-colored or dark brown. Each flower is about 14 to 17 mm (0.6 to 0.7 in) long and 7 to 8 mm (0.3 in) wide.
Each flower has different parts:
- The dorsal sepal (the top part) is shaped like a spear or an egg. It's about 8 to 9 mm (0.3 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide. It curves downwards.
- The lateral sepals (the side parts) are also 8 to 9 mm (0.3 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. They stand upright and curve away from each other.
- The petals are narrow and shaped like an egg or spear. They are 7 to 8 mm (0.3 in) long and about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide.
- The labellum (a special lip-like petal) is about 7 mm (0.3 in) long and 5 mm (0.2 in) wide. It bends upwards sharply in the middle, and its edges are slightly wavy.
These beautiful orchids usually bloom from late November to January.
How It Got Its Name
The chestnut leek orchid was officially described in 1998 by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the plant on Bruny Island.
The scientific name castaneum comes from a Latin word. It means "of the color of chestnuts." This name was chosen because of the lovely chestnut color of the orchid's flowers.
Where It Lives
The chestnut leek orchid likes to grow in damp, open areas called heathlands. It can be found under small shrubs. So far, it has only been found in two places: the South Bruny National Park and the Tasman National Park in Tasmania.
Why It Needs Our Help
This orchid is very rare! Scientists only know of two groups of these plants, and together they only have about fifty plants in total.
Because there are so few, the chestnut leek orchid is considered Endangered by the Tasmanian government. It's even listed as Critically Endangered by the Australian government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act. This means it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
Even though both groups of these orchids live in national parks, they still face dangers. One group could be wiped out by a big bushfire. The other group is threatened by other plants growing too much around them, especially if there isn't enough natural fire to clear the area. Protecting these special places is important to help the chestnut leek orchid survive.
