Westland greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Westland greenhood |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
cernua
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The Pterostylis cernua, also known as the Westland greenhood, is a special type of orchid flower. It is found only in New Zealand. When this plant is not flowering, it has a circle of leaves close to the ground. But when it's time to bloom, a single flower grows on a stem with leaves. This flower has a mix of white, dark green, and reddish-brown colors.
What Does the Westland Greenhood Look Like?
The Westland greenhood is a plant that grows from a special underground storage part called a tuber. It lives for many years, and its leaves die back each year.
Young plants, or those not yet flowering, have a circle of leaves close to the ground. These leaves are shaped like an oval or a spear. They are about 15 to 35 millimeters (0.6 to 1.4 inches) long and 4 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
Flowering plants grow a single green flower. This flower has see-through white lines and a reddish-brown color on its tips. The flower leans forward a little bit. It grows on a stem that is about 60 to 120 millimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) tall.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, joins with the petals. Together, they form a hood over the center part of the flower, which is called the column. This hood is about 25 to 28 millimeters (1.0 to 1.1 inches) long. It curves forward and has a short, pointed tip.
The side parts of the flower, called the lateral sepals, stand up straight. They are loosely touching the hood and become very thin, like threads, at their tips. These tips are about 13 to 15 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. The labellum, which is a special lip-like part of the orchid, is curved and dark green. It has a blackish raised line along its middle.
The Westland greenhood flowers from November to January.
How the Westland Greenhood Got Its Name
The Westland greenhood was first officially described in 1997. Three botanists, David Jones, Brian Molloy, and Mark Clements, gave it its scientific name. They published their description in a magazine called The Orchadian.
The second part of its scientific name, cernua, is a Latin word. It means "drooping," "stooping," or "nodding." This name probably describes how the flower leans forward.
Where Does the Westland Greenhood Live?
The Westland greenhood grows in wet, swampy areas. It can be found in grass and a type of moss called sphagnum moss. It also likes places that get flooded sometimes during the year.
This orchid is only found on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. You can find it near towns like Hokitika, Kumara, and around Lake Mahinapua.
