Karri snail orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Karri snail orchid |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Pterostylis karri growing near Dunsborough | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
|
| Species: |
karri
|
The Karri snail orchid (scientific name: Pterostylis karri) is a special type of orchid. It only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area. Both young and mature plants usually have a small group of leaves shaped like a rosette. When it flowers, it has a single green and white bloom. This flower has long, upright parts called sepals on its sides. Like some other "greenhood" orchids, it often grows in large groups.
Contents
What the Karri Snail Orchid Looks Like
The Karri snail orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This orchid has an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root.
Most plants have a small group of leaves that look like a rosette. These leaves are about 10 to 20 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) wide. They are also about 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long. Sometimes, the rosette of leaves might not be there.
When the plant flowers, it has a single green and white bloom. This flower is about 15 to 20 millimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long. It is also about 7 to 8 millimeters (0.28 to 0.31 inches) wide. The flower grows on a stem that can be 100 to 400 millimeters (4 to 16 inches) tall.
The flowering stem also has three to eight leaves. These leaves are about 10 to 20 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long. They are about 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, joins with the petals. Together, they form a hood. This hood covers the central part of the flower, which is called the column. The side sepals are close to this hood. They almost close the front of the flower. These sepals have long, thin tips that stand upright. These tips can be 15 to 30 millimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) long.
The labellum is a large part of the flower, but you cannot see it from the outside. The Karri snail orchid usually flowers from August to early December.
How the Karri Snail Orchid Got Its Name
The Karri snail orchid was officially described in 2014. It was named by two botanists, David Jones and Christopher French. They found a sample of the plant south of Mandurah. The description was then published in a magazine called Australian Orchid Review.
Before 2014, people knew this orchid by other names. They called it Pterostylis sp. 'karri' or Pterostylis sp. 'karri forest'. The second part of its scientific name, karri, comes from the karri tree. The karri tree (Eucalyptus diversicolor) is a type of Eucalyptus tree. This orchid often grows in the forests where karri trees are found.
Where the Karri Snail Orchid Lives
The Karri snail orchid grows in places that are moist and shady. You can find it in forests and near granite rocks. It lives in the area between Walpole and Margaret River. This region includes parts of the Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, and Warren areas.
Protecting the Karri Snail Orchid
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the Karri snail orchid. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these orchids, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
