Pterostylis agathicola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kauri greenhood |
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Pterostylis
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agathicola
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The kauri greenhood (Pterostylis agathicola) is a special type of orchid. It is found only in the North Island of New Zealand. This means it is endemic to that area.
Like other greenhood orchids, the kauri greenhood looks different depending on if it's flowering or not. When it's not flowering, it has a group of leaves that lie flat on the ground. When it is flowering, it grows a single flower on a tall stem, with leaves on the stem itself. This orchid mostly grows in forests where kauri trees (Agathis australis) live. Its flowers are quite large, with green and clear white colors.
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What Does the Kauri Greenhood Look Like?
The kauri greenhood is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. When it's not flowering, it has a rosette of two or three dark green leaves. These leaves are shaped like thin blades or spears. Each leaf is about 30 to 60 millimeters (1.2 to 2.4 inches) long and 3 to 6 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
The Kauri Greenhood Flower
When the kauri greenhood flowers, it grows a single bloom on a stem. This stem can be 100 to 350 millimeters (3.9 to 13.8 inches) tall. The flower itself is about 24 to 28 millimeters (0.9 to 1.1 inches) long. The flowers are mostly clear white with green stripes and brownish tips.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, joins with the petals. Together, they form a hood over the center of the flower. This hood is called a "galea." The dorsal sepal is longer than the petals and curves forward. The side parts, called lateral sepals, stand upright. They leave a wide space between them and the galea.
The labellum is a special lip-like part of the flower. It is about 9 to 11 millimeters (0.35 to 0.43 inches) long and 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) wide. It's dark green to brownish and twists noticeably to the right. Kauri greenhoods usually flower between July and October.
Where Does the Kauri Greenhood Live?
The kauri greenhood grows almost only in kauri forests. You can often find it in the layer of fallen leaves near large kauri trees. It lives on the North Island of New Zealand. Its range stretches from the Te Paki Recreation Reserve in the north, down to the Te Kauri Scenic Reserve, and the Kaimai Range.
How Was the Kauri Greenhood Named?
The kauri greenhood was officially described in 1997. Three botanists, David Jones, Brian Molloy, and Mark Clements, gave it its scientific name, Pterostylis agathicola. They described it from a plant found in the Waitākere Ranges. Their description was published in a journal called The Orchadian.
