Prasophyllum crassum facts for kids

Prasophyllum crassum is a special type of orchid that only grows in South Australia. It's known for its single, tube-shaped leaf and pretty greenish-pink flowers. This orchid was only recently discovered and named. Before, people thought it was a different kind of orchid called P. fitzgeraldii. But scientists found that Prasophyllum crassum has fewer, smaller flowers that are less colorful, and its labellum (a special petal) has a different shape. This unique plant usually pops up after a bushfire in the southeastern part of South Australia.

What Does This Orchid Look Like?

Prasophyllum crassum 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, and it's deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times. It has one shiny green leaf shaped like a tube. This leaf is about 200–250 mm (8–10 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide.

This orchid grows between six and fifteen flowers on a stem that is 30–70 mm (1–3 in) long. The flowers are greenish and pinkish-brown. They have thick petals and sepals (parts of the flower). Each flower is about 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide.

Like other orchids in its group, the flowers of Prasophyllum crassum are upside down. This means the labellum (a special lip-like petal) is above the column (the part that holds the reproductive organs), instead of below it.

The top sepal, called the dorsal sepal, is shaped like a spear or an egg. It's about 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The side sepals are long and narrow, about 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. They are mostly separate from each other.

The petals are greenish-brown with white edges. They are long and narrow, about 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The labellum is whitish and shaped like an oblong or egg. It's about 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide.

About halfway along, the labellum curves upwards. Its tip just reaches between the side sepals. The edges of this curved part are wavy or crinkled and have tiny hair-like bumps called papillae. In the middle of the labellum, there's a raised, claw-like, yellowish-brown area called a callus. This callus extends almost to the tip of the labellum. This orchid usually flowers in late September and early October.

How Did It Get Its Name?

Prasophyllum crassum was officially named in 2017. Two scientists, David Jones and Robert Bates, described it for the first time. They published their description in a magazine called Australian Orchid Review. They studied a plant they found in the Desert Camp Conservation Park.

The second part of its scientific name, crassum, comes from a Latin word. It means "thick," "fat," or "stout." This name was chosen because this orchid has a thick, fleshy feel to it.

Where Does This Orchid Grow?

This special leek orchid mostly grows in low-lying areas that get wet in winter. You can find it in the Big Heath Conservation Park. It also grows in the areas between Kingston, Mundulla, and Frances in South Australia. It often grows alongside other types of leek orchids. This orchid usually only appears after a bushfire.