Forked greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Forked greenhood |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
furcata
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The forked greenhood (also known as Pterostylis furcata) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in Tasmania, Australia. When this plant flowers, it has a bunch of bright green leaves at the bottom. A single green and white flower grows on a tall stem. The top part of the flower points slightly upwards.
What Does the Forked Greenhood Look Like?
The forked greenhood is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant has an underground tuber, which is like a small storage organ.
When the plant flowers, it has a group of bright green leaves. These leaves are arranged in a circle, like a rosette, at the bottom of the stem. Each leaf is about 30 to 80 millimeters (1.2 to 3.1 inches) long. They are also about 10 to 20 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) wide.
A single green and white flower grows on a tall spike. This spike can be 120 to 200 millimeters (4.7 to 7.9 inches) high. The flower itself is about 35 to 40 millimeters (1.4 to 1.6 inches) long. It is also about 16 to 20 millimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) wide.
The top part of the flower is called the dorsal sepal. It joins with the petals to form a hood. This hood covers the central part of the flower, called the column. The dorsal sepal is longer than the petals and has a sharp tip. This tip points slightly upwards.
There is a wide space between the side parts of the flower (lateral sepals) and the hood. The lower lip of the flower, called the labellum, is dark-colored. It is about 18 to 22 millimeters (0.7 to 0.9 inches) long and 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. This labellum curves outwards. The forked greenhood usually flowers from November to February.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The forked greenhood was first officially described in 1840. A scientist named John Lindley wrote about it. He used a plant sample collected in Tasmania for his description. This information was published in a book called The Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants.
The scientific name for this orchid is Pterostylis furcata. The second part of the name, furcata, comes from a Latin word. It means "forked," which describes the shape of part of the flower.
Where Does It Grow?
The forked greenhood grows in Tasmania. You can find it in wet forests. It also grows in grassy areas on mountains.
