Giant snail orchid facts for kids

The giant snail orchid (scientific name: Pterostylis brunneola) is a special type of orchid that only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's called a "snail orchid" because its flower looks a bit like a snail! When it's not flowering, this plant has a big circle of leaves that lie flat on the ground. When it does flower, it grows a single, unique white flower with light brown stripes. These orchids often grow in large groups, sometimes alongside other types of spider orchids.

What Does the Giant Snail Orchid Look Like?

The giant snail orchid 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. It's also deciduous, so its leaves might fall off at certain times.

Leaves and Plant Size

This plant has a large circle of leaves, called a rosette, that can be 20–55 mm (0.8–2 in) wide. These leaves lie flat on the ground. When the plant is ready to flower, it grows a single stem. This stem can be 90–170 mm (4–7 in) tall. It also has two or three smaller leaves on the stem itself. These stem leaves are about 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long.

The Unique Flower

The giant snail orchid produces one pale brown and white flower. Each flower is about 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide. The top part of the flower, made from the dorsal sepal and petals, forms a hood. This hood is called a "galea" and it covers the column (the central part of the orchid flower). The dorsal sepal has a slightly blunt tip.

The side sepals of the flower stay close to the galea. They have thin, thread-like tips that stand up straight. These tips can be 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long. The labellum (the orchid's "lip") is wide but you can't see it from the outside of the flower. These beautiful orchids usually flower between July and September.

How the Giant Snail Orchid Got Its Name

The giant snail orchid, Pterostylis brunneola, was officially described in 2014. It was named by two botanists, David Jones and Christopher French. They found a sample of this plant south of Narrogin.

Before it got its official name, people just called it Pterostylis sp. 'giant'. The second part of its scientific name, brunneola, comes from a Latin word. It means "brownish," which describes the light brown color of the flowers.

Where Does the Giant Snail Orchid Live?

The giant snail orchid grows near Toolibin Lake in Western Australia. It prefers sandy soil. You can often find it growing under trees like Banksia and Allocasuarina. This orchid lives in specific natural areas of Western Australia. These areas are known as the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions.

Is the Giant Snail Orchid Protected?

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed Pterostylis brunneola as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these orchids in the wild, and they are not considered to be in danger.