Tiny greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tiny greenhood |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Pterostylis parviflora growing in the Macedon Range | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
|
| Species: |
parviflora
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Speculantha parviflora (R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
|
The Pterostylis parviflora, commonly known as the tiny greenhood, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in south-eastern Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
Like other orchids, its look changes depending on if it's flowering or not. Plants that are not flowering have a circle of leaves called a rosette. But flowering plants do not have this rosette at their base. Instead, they have up to eight tiny green, white, and brown flowers.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The tiny greenhood is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It is also a deciduous herb. This means it loses its leaves each year. It grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root.
Leaves and Non-Flowering Plants
When the plant is not flowering, it has a rosette of leaves. This rosette is a circle of three to eight leaves. The leaves are egg-shaped or heart-shaped. They lie flat on the ground. Each leaf is usually 3 to 15 millimeters long. They are also 3 to 7 millimeters wide.
Flowers and Flowering Plants
Flowering plants have a thin, wiry stem. This stem can be 80 to 250 millimeters tall. Up to eight flowers grow along this stem. The flowers are small, about 7 to 10 millimeters long. They are also 3 to 4 millimeters wide.
The flowers are mostly green and white. Sometimes they have brown on their petals. The top part of the flower forms a hood. This hood is called a "galea." It is made from the dorsal sepal and the petals joined together. The dorsal sepal is the top part of the flower. It curves forward and has a short point.
The side parts, called the lateral sepals, stand upright. They stay close to the hood. They have thread-like tips about 3 millimeters long. These tips do not stick out above the hood. The space between the bases of the lateral sepals is called the sinus. This sinus bulges forward and has a small notch.
The labellum is a special lip-like part of the flower. It is about 4 millimeters long and 1.5 millimeters wide. It is barely visible above the sinus. Tiny greenhoods usually flower from February to May.
Where Does It Grow?
The tiny greenhood grows in many different places. You can find it in coastal areas. It also grows in forests. It prefers moist, well-drained soils.
This orchid is common along the coast and ranges of New South Wales. It also grows in the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania. Most of Victoria has this plant too. It can be found in Queensland, but it is rare in South Australia.
