Fragrant leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fragrant leek orchid |
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The fragrant leek orchid (scientific name: Prasophyllum suaveolens) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in inland Victoria, Australia. This orchid has a single bright green leaf shaped like a tube. Its base is often reddish. It can have up to 25 small flowers. These flowers are green to yellowish-green with red spots. They are the tiniest leek orchid flowers in Victoria!
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What it Looks Like
The fragrant leek orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times.
Leaves and Stems
Each plant has one bright green leaf. This leaf is shaped like a tube. It can be about 15 to 20 centimetres (6 to 8 inches) long. The leaf is about 2 to 3 millimetres (0.08 to 0.1 inches) wide near its reddish base.
Flowers
The orchid grows a flowering stem that can be 10 to 25 centimetres (4 to 10 inches) tall. Along this stem, there are usually 10 to 25 flowers. These flowers are green to yellowish-green and have a strong smell.
Like other leek orchids, the flowers are upside down. This means the special lip-like part, called the labellum, is above the central part (the column).
Flower Parts
- The dorsal sepal (top part) is shaped like a line or an egg. It is about 4 to 5 millimetres (0.16 to 0.2 inches) long. It often has reddish lines and points downwards.
- The lateral sepals (side parts) are narrow and about 2 to 3 millimetres (0.08 to 0.1 inches) long. They can be separate or joined near their base.
- The petals are narrow and egg-shaped, about 4 millimetres (0.16 inches) long. They point upwards and have a reddish line in the middle.
- The labellum (lip) is green to pinkish. It is about 4 to 5 millimetres (0.16 to 0.2 inches) long. It curves sharply upwards in the middle and has slightly crinkled edges. There is a fleshy, green part called a callus in its centre.
The fragrant leek orchid usually flowers in October and November.
How it Got its Name
The fragrant leek orchid was first officially described in 1994. A botanist named David Jones found a specimen near Lismore. He published its description in a science journal called Muelleria. The scientific name suaveolens comes from a Latin word. It means "fragrant" or "sweet-smelling," which fits its strong scent!
Where it Lives
The fragrant leek orchid grows in grasslands and grassy woodlands. These areas are usually on flat plains made of basalt rock. While it once grew in many places, it is now found only in inland areas of Victoria.
Protecting the Orchid
The fragrant leek orchid is a rare plant. In 2010, there were only about 1,500 plants known. They were found in just eight different groups. Many of these groups are on roadsides or on private land. Only two groups are protected in special nature reserves.
This orchid is considered Threatened under a Victorian law called the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. It is also listed as Endangered under an Australian government law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
Threats to the Orchid
The main dangers to the fragrant leek orchid are:
- Weed invasion: Weeds can grow over the orchids and take their space and nutrients.
- Road or rail maintenance: Work done on roads or train tracks can accidentally harm the plants.
- Inappropriate fire regimes: Not enough or too much fire can hurt the orchid's natural growing cycle.
Related pages
- Prasophyllum odoratum, another type of orchid found in south-eastern Australia. It is also known as the fragrant leek orchid.
