Needle-point rustyhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Needle-point rustyhood |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Pterostylis aciculiformis growing in the Grampians National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
|
| Species: |
aciculiformis
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Oligochaetochilus aciculiformis (D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) Szlach. |
|
The Pterostylis aciculiformis, often called the needle-point rustyhood or slender ruddyhood, is a fascinating plant. It belongs to the orchid family and is found only in south-eastern Australia. This special orchid has a group of leaves at its base, like a small circle. It also grows up to ten green and brown flowers. Each flower has a unique part called a labellum that looks like an insect! You can find this orchid in many places across New South Wales and Victoria, especially in drier forests.
Contents
What Does the Needle-Point Rustyhood Look Like?
The needle-point rustyhood is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for many years. It's a deciduous herb, which means it loses its leaves at certain times of the year. This plant grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root.
At the bottom of its flowering stem, it has a rosette of about five to twelve leaves. Each leaf is usually 10–30 mm (0.4–1 in) long and 6–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide.
The plant's flowering stem can grow quite tall, reaching 100–250 mm (4–10 in). On this stem, you might see up to twelve green and brown flowers. Each flower is about 13–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 5 mm (0.2 in) wide. There are also three to six leaves wrapped around the flowering stem.
Flower Details
The top part of the flower, made of the dorsal sepal and petals, forms a hood. This hood covers the central part of the flower. The dorsal sepal has a small, upturned point about 3 mm (0.1 in) long.
The side sepals point downwards and curve forward. They are thinner than the hood and have thread-like tips that are 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long. These tips usually stay close together.
The most interesting part is the labellum. It's brown, thick, and looks a lot like an insect! It's about 4 mm (0.2 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The "head" end of the labellum is swollen. It has 6 to 12 white bristles on each side, and many short bristles on the "tail" end. This orchid usually flowers from September to December.
How the Needle-Point Rustyhood Got Its Name
The needle-point rustyhood was first officially described in 1936 by a scientist named William Nicholls. He first called it Pterostylis pusilla var. aciculiformis. Later, in 1989, two other scientists, Mark Clements and David Jones, decided it was unique enough to be its own species.
The special part of its name, aciculiformis, comes from two Latin words. "Acicula" means "a small pin," and the ending "-formis" means "having the shape of." So, its name describes its needle-like features!
Where the Needle-Point Rustyhood Grows
You can find Pterostylis aciculiformis in different areas, or disjunct populations. It grows south from Wellington in New South Wales and across the northern parts of Victoria. It prefers drier forests and often grows in stony soils. There's also a chance it might grow in the far eastern part of South Australia.
