Golfer's leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golfer's leek orchid |
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The golfer's leek orchid (Prasophyllum incorrectum) is a special type of orchid that only grows in Tasmania, Australia. It has a single dark green leaf and pretty yellowish-green and reddish-brown flowers that smell nice. You might be surprised to learn that the biggest group of these rare orchids lives on a golf course!
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About the Golfer's Leek Orchid
The golfer's 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. This orchid has a single, dark green leaf shaped like a tube. This leaf can be about 12 to 30 centimeters (5 to 12 inches) long.
Each plant grows a flowering stem that is about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) tall. On this stem, you'll find between ten and twenty flowers. These flowers are yellowish-green and reddish-brown, and they have a lovely scent. Each flower is about 7 to 9 millimeters (about 0.3 inches) wide.
Like other leek orchids, its flowers are upside down! This means the labellum (a special lip-like petal) is above the column (the part of the flower that holds the pollen) instead of below it. The petals and sepals (leaf-like parts that protect the flower) are green with brown stripes. The labellum is broadly egg-shaped and turns sharply upwards. These orchids usually bloom in October and November.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The golfer's leek orchid, Prasophyllum incorrectum, was officially described in 2003. A botanist named David Jones found a sample of this orchid on the Campbell Town golf course. He then wrote about it in a scientific paper called Muelleria.
The second part of its scientific name, incorrectum, means "incorrect." This name was chosen because this orchid was once mistakenly thought to be the same as another orchid, Prasophyllum correctum.
Where Does It Live?
The golfer's leek orchid grows in damp grasslands and grassy areas within woodlands. It is only found in three specific locations around Campbell Town, Tasmania. The largest group of these orchids lives right on the local golf course!
Protecting the Golfer's Leek Orchid
The golfer's leek orchid is a very rare plant. It is listed as "Critically Endangered" by the Australian government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This means it faces a very high risk of disappearing from the wild. The Tasmanian government also lists it as "Endangered" under its own Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.
The biggest dangers to this orchid are when land is cleared for other uses. Another threat is when native grasslands, where the orchid grows, are turned into areas with non-native plants. Protecting these special places is important to help the golfer's leek orchid survive.
