Guyra leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guyra leek orchid |
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| Prasophyllum caudiculum growing near Guyra | |
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The Guyra leek orchid (scientific name: Prasophyllum caudiculum) is a special type of orchid. It's found only in a small area of northern New South Wales, Australia. This plant has a single, bright green leaf shaped like a tube. It also grows up to thirty-five greenish or reddish-brown flowers that are packed closely together on a tall stem. You can find this orchid growing in grassy areas near the town of Guyra.
What Does It Look Like?
The Guyra leek orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, which means some parts of it die back each year, but the plant itself stays alive underground. This orchid has a hidden tuber (like a small potato) underground. From this tuber grows a single, bright green leaf that looks like a tube. This leaf can be about 30 to 45 centimeters (12 to 18 inches) long, and its base is often reddish-purple.
The plant produces between ten and thirty-five flowers on a tall spike. These flowers are usually greenish-brown to reddish-brown. Like other orchids in its group, the flowers are upside down! This means the labellum (a special petal) is above the column (the part of the flower that holds the pollen) instead of below it.
Let's look closer at the flower parts:
- The dorsal sepal (the top part of the flower) is narrow and egg-shaped. It's about 6 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and curves downwards.
- The lateral sepals (the two side parts) are long and narrow, about 8 to 9 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. They are separated from each other.
- The petals are thin and about 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long.
- The labellum is a broad, oblong shape, about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. It bends sharply upwards near its middle, often reaching between the side sepals. The edge of the labellum is wide and wavy, especially near its tip. In the middle of the labellum, there's a thick, green, grooved part called a callus.
This orchid usually flowers from October to December.
How It Got Its Name
The Guyra leek orchid was officially named Prasophyllum caudiculum in the year 2000. It was named by a botanist (a plant scientist) named David Jones. He described the plant after a sample was collected near Guyra.
The second part of its scientific name, caudiculum, comes from a Latin word that means "a little tail." This name refers to the narrow, tail-like tip of the labellum on the flower.
Where Does It Live?
This special leek orchid grows in the New England Tableland region of New South Wales. It likes to grow among grasses and other small plants.
Gallery
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Prasophyllum caudiculum habit
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Side view of P. caudiculum flower
