Pretty leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pretty leek orchid |
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The Prasophyllum pulchellum, also known as the pretty leek orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in Tasmania, an island state of Australia. This orchid has a single green leaf that looks like a tube. It also has up to twelve light reddish-brown flowers. The main petal, called the labellum, is usually cream-coloured or whitish.
It can be found in many parts of Tasmania. However, only about 130 of these plants are known to exist. It is hard to find them because they grow in low, thick heath areas. This means there might be more pretty leek orchids out there than we know!
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What Does the Pretty Leek Orchid Look Like?
The pretty leek orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It also loses its leaves each year, which makes it deciduous. This plant has an underground tuber, which is like a storage organ.
It grows a single leaf that looks like a tube. This leaf is about 15 to 25 centimetres (6 to 10 inches) long. It is about 1.5 to 3 millimetres (0.06 to 0.12 inches) wide near its purplish-red base.
Its Flowers
The orchid produces between three and twelve light reddish-brown flowers. These flowers are spread out along a stem called a flowering spike. This spike is about 4 to 12 centimetres (1.6 to 4.7 inches) long. The whole plant can reach a height of 12 to 30 centimetres (4.7 to 11.8 inches).
Each flower is about 5.5 to 7 millimetres (0.22 to 0.28 inches) long and wide. Like other leek orchids, its flowers are upside down. This means the labellum (the main petal) is above the column (the central part of the flower) instead of below it.
The top petal, called the sepal, is shaped like a spear or a narrow egg. It is about 6 millimetres (0.24 inches) long and 3 millimetres (0.12 inches) wide. It is reddish-brown with darker marks. The side sepals are narrow and about 6 to 7 millimetres (0.24 to 0.28 inches) long. They are about 2 millimetres (0.08 inches) wide and separate from each other.
The other petals are thin and about 5 to 6 millimetres (0.20 to 0.24 inches) long. They are about 1.5 millimetres (0.06 inches) wide and reddish-brown with light edges. The labellum is cream-coloured or whitish. It is shaped like an egg or a spear and is 6 to 7 millimetres (0.24 to 0.28 inches) long. It is about 3 millimetres (0.12 inches) wide.
The labellum bends sharply upwards by about 90 degrees in the middle. The edges of this bent part are crinkled and wavy. In the middle of the labellum, there is a shiny green, grooved part called a callus. This callus extends just past the bend. The pretty leek orchid blooms from late October through November.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The pretty leek orchid was first officially described in 1998. This was done by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the plant on South Bruny Island. The description was then published in a scientific book called Australian Orchid Research.
The second part of its scientific name, pulchellum, comes from a Latin word. It means "beautiful." So, its name basically means "beautiful leek orchid."
Where Does It Live?
The pretty leek orchid is only found in six known spots in Tasmania. These spots are in both the north and south of the island. It grows in areas with low, dense heath plants.
It can be very hard to find the orchid in these areas. This is especially true if there haven't been any fires. Fires can help clear out the thick heath, making it easier to spot the orchids.
Why Is It Endangered?
There are fewer than 150 pretty leek orchids known to exist. Because of this, it is considered an "Endangered" species in Tasmania. This classification is under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. It is also listed as "Critically Endangered" by the Australian government. This is under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act.
The main reasons this orchid is in danger are:
- Urban development: New buildings and towns can destroy its natural home.
- Fire problems: Not enough or too many fires can harm the areas where it grows.
- Loss of individual plants: Scattered orchids can be lost, which reduces the total number.
Protecting these special orchids is very important to help them survive.
