Southwest granite snail orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southwest granite snail orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
jacksonii
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The Pterostylis jacksonii, also called the southwest granite snail orchid, is a unique type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west region of Western Australia. Both young and mature plants have a rosette of leaves that lie flat on the ground. When the plant flowers, it produces a single green and white bloom. This orchid has only been found in the area between the towns of Walpole and Albany.
What the Orchid Looks Like
The southwest granite snail orchid is a terrestrial plant, meaning it grows in the ground. It's a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years and its leaves die back each year. It has an underground tuber, which is like a small storage organ. The plant forms a compact rosette of leaves about 15 to 35 millimeters (0.6 to 1.4 inches) wide.
When it flowers, a single green and white bloom appears on a stem that is 40 to 80 millimeters (1.6 to 3.1 inches) tall. The flower itself is about 9 to 11 millimeters (0.35 to 0.43 inches) long and 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. Sometimes, the stem has a light brown color. There's also a single leaf on the flowering stem, about 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, and the petals are joined together. They form a slightly puffed-up hood, or "galea," which covers the central part of the flower called the column. The side sepals are held close to this hood, almost closing the front of the flower. They have thin, thread-like tips that stand upright, measuring about 14 to 17 millimeters (0.55 to 0.67 inches) long. The labellum, which is a special lip-like part of the orchid, is wide but you can't see it from outside the flower. These orchids usually bloom in June and July.
How it Got its Name
The Pterostylis jacksonii was officially described in 2014 by two botanists, David Jones and Christopher French. They wrote about it in the Australian Orchid Review after finding a sample in the Mount Frankland National Park. Before this, the species was known simply as Pterostylis sp. 'granite'. The second part of its scientific name, jacksonii, was chosen to honor William Pownall Jackson, the person who first discovered this orchid.
Where it Lives
The southwest granite snail orchid grows on granite rocks, often with moss, between Walpole and Albany. This area is part of what is called the Warren biogeographic region. This region has a specific type of environment that suits this orchid.
Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Pterostylis jacksonii 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 of disappearing.
