Prasophyllum uvidulum facts for kids

The summer leek orchid (scientific name: Prasophyllum uvidulum) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in Victoria, Australia. This unique plant has a single, long leaf. It also produces beautiful, pale green flowers with a sweet smell. These flowers often have reddish marks. The summer leek orchid is quite rare. It is only found in one swampy area in north-east Victoria.

What Does the Summer Leek Orchid Look Like?

The summer leek orchid is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It is also a deciduous herb. This means it has soft stems and its leaves fall off at certain times. The orchid grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root.

It has one long, tube-shaped leaf. This leaf can grow up to 200 mm (8 in) (about 8 inches) long. It is about 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) (about 0.1 inches) wide.

Flowers of the Summer Leek Orchid

The orchid produces between twelve and twenty-five flowers. These flowers grow along a tall stem called a flowering spike. The spike is usually 80–120 mm (3–5 in) (about 3 to 5 inches) long. The whole plant can reach a height of 200–350 mm (8–10 in) (about 8 to 14 inches).

The flowers are pale green and have a pleasant scent. They often have reddish markings. Like other orchids in its group, the flowers are upside down. This means the labellum (a special petal) is at the top, not the bottom.

Parts of the Flower

• The ovary (where seeds develop) is 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. It has reddish ridges.
• The sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower. The top sepal (dorsal sepal) is egg-shaped. It is 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. The side sepals are similar in length.
• The petals are linear (long and narrow). They are 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long.
• The labellum is a special petal. It can be white, pink, or mauve. It is 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. This labellum curves sharply upwards in the middle. The curved part has uneven edges.
• There is a shiny, dark green, raised part called a callus in the center of the labellum.

The summer leek orchid blooms in December and January.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The summer leek orchid was first officially described in 2009. Two botanists, David Jones and Dean Rouse, gave it its scientific name. They found a specimen (a sample plant) near Shelley. They published their description in a magazine called The Orchadian.

The scientific name uvidulum comes from a Latin word. Uvidus means "damp," "moist," or "humid." The ending "-ulum" means it's a "diminutive form," making it "slightly damp." This name likely refers to the moist places where the orchid grows.

Where Does the Summer Leek Orchid Live?

The summer leek orchid likes to grow in moist, grassy areas. It is found in tall forests. So far, this orchid is only known from one specific place. This place is called the "type location." It's the spot where the first plant used for its scientific description was found.

Protecting the Summer Leek Orchid

This orchid is very rare. Only about 20 plants are known to exist at its type location. Because there are so few of them, the summer leek orchid is considered "Threatened." This means it is at risk of disappearing forever.

The Victorian Government in Australia has a law called the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. This law helps protect plants and animals that are in danger. The summer leek orchid is listed under this act. This helps ensure efforts are made to protect its habitat and help it survive.