Kiandra greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kiandra greenhood |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
oreophila
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The Pterostylis oreophila, also known as the Kiandra greenhood or blue-tongued greenhood, is a special type of orchid. It is found only in south-eastern Australia. Both flowering and non-flowering plants have three to five dark green, fleshy leaves. When it flowers, it grows a single green and white flower that looks a bit like a sickle. This flower has a deeply notched, bulging part between its side sepals.
Contents
What it Looks Like
The Kiandra greenhood is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous herb, which means it loses its leaves at certain times.
Leaves and Flowers
Flowering plants have three to five dark green, thick leaves. These leaves are usually oblong or elliptic in shape and lie flat on the ground. Each leaf is about 30–70 mm (1–3 in) long and 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide.
A single flower grows on a stem that is about 80–200 mm (3–8 in) tall. The flower itself is about 25–30 mm (0.98–1.2 in) long and 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide. Its colors are white with light green stripes.
Flower Parts
The top sepal (called the dorsal sepal) and the petals are joined together. They form a hood, which is called a "galea," over the central part of the flower known as the column. The dorsal sepal is about the same length as the petals and has a pointed tip.
The side lateral sepals stand upright, leaving a wide space between them and the galea. There is a bulging part between these lateral sepals with a deep notch in the middle. The tips of the lateral sepals also stand upright and are about 10–16 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long.
The labellum, which is a special part of the orchid flower, is bluish and curved. It is about 13–20 mm (0.5–0.8 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide, and it sticks out above the notched area. This orchid usually flowers from November to January.
How it Got its Name
Discovery and Meaning
The Pterostylis oreophila was officially described for the first time in 1974. This was done by a scientist named Stephen Clemesha. He found a sample of the plant near a place called Kiandra. The description was then published in a journal called The Orchadian.
The second part of its scientific name, oreophila, comes from two Ancient Greek words. Oros means "mountain" or "hill," and philos means "beloved" or "dear." So, its name basically means "mountain-loving."
Where it Lives
The Kiandra greenhood grows in moist soil, often close to streams. It can be found in mountain (montane) and subalpine (high mountain) forests and shrublands. Its habitat stretches between the Brindabella Range in New South Wales and the north-eastern part of Victoria.
Protecting the Kiandra Greenhood
Conservation Status
The Kiandra greenhood is considered "critically endangered." This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing from the wild. It is listed as critically endangered under two important laws: the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the New South Wales Government NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act.
Threats to Survival
There are only about 240 mature Kiandra greenhood plants known to exist, spread across four main groups. The biggest dangers to this special orchid include:
- Grazing and trampling: Animals like cattle, horses, and pigs can eat the plants or step on them.
- Horse trail riding: Horse riding can disturb the soil and plants where the orchids grow.
- Weed invasion: Invasive plants, such as blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), can grow over the orchids and take away their space and resources.
