Little leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little leek orchid |
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The little leek orchid (scientific name: Prasophyllum ovale) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This small orchid has a smooth, tube-shaped leaf. It also has pretty white, green, and brown flowers. These flowers have a part called the labellum that points slightly upwards.
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About the Little Leek Orchid
The little leek orchid is a plant that grows on land, not in water. It is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off during certain seasons. This plant is a herb, meaning it has soft stems instead of woody ones like trees.
Underground, it has a tuber, which is like a small, swollen root that stores food. From this tuber, a single, smooth, green, tube-shaped leaf grows. This leaf can be about 150 to 300 mm (6 to 12 inches) long and 2 to 3 mm (0.08 to 0.12 inches) wide.
What Its Flowers Look Like
The little leek orchid grows a flowering stem that can be 200 to 400 mm (8 to 16 inches) tall. On this stem, you can find between eight and twenty or more flowers. The flowers are white, green, and brown, and they are about 8 mm (0.3 inches) long and wide.
Like other orchids in its group, the flowers of the little leek orchid 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 sepals (leaf-like parts protecting the flower) and petals (the colorful parts of the flower) point forwards. The two side sepals are separate from each other. The labellum itself turns only slightly upwards and has a slightly frilly edge. You can see these orchids flowering from September to October.
How It Got Its Name
The little leek orchid was first officially described in 1840 by a scientist named John Lindley. He published its description in a book called A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.
The scientific name, Prasophyllum ovale, has a special meaning. The word ovale comes from Latin and means "oval." This name refers to the oval shape of the orchid's labellum, which is a key part of its flower.
Where It Lives
The little leek orchid grows in woodlands. You can find it in areas between New Norcia and Mount Barker in Western Australia. These areas include different natural regions like the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, and Swan Coastal Plain.
Protecting the Little Leek Orchid
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the little leek orchid. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these orchids, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
