Two-bristle greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Two-bristle greenhood |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
psammophila
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| Synonyms | |
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Oligochaetochilus psammophilus D.L.Jones |
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The Pterostylis psammophila, also known as the two-bristle greenhood, is a special kind of plant. It belongs to the orchid family and is found only in South Australia. Both young plants and flowering plants have a group of leaves that grow in a circle, like a rosette. When the plant flowers, it has beautiful green and white flowers that look a bit like insects. These flowers only stay open for a few days!
What Does It Look Like?
The two-bristle greenhood is a plant that grows on land. It lives for many years and has an underground storage part called a tuber. Each year, it loses its leaves.
This plant has a rosette of about six to sixteen leaves. These leaves overlap each other and can grow up to 50 mm (2 inches) long. Their edges are slightly jagged, like tiny saw teeth.
When the plant is ready to flower, a stem grows up to about 150 mm (6 inches) tall. The leaves at the base usually dry up by the time the flowers appear. The flowers are green or see-through white.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, and the petals form a hood. This hood covers the center of the flower. The side parts of the flower, called lateral sepals, point downwards. The lip of the flower, known as the labellum, looks like an insect. It has two long hairs, like antennae, at one end. This orchid blooms between late August and October.
Naming the Orchid
The scientific name for plants helps us understand them better. The two-bristle greenhood was first officially described in 2007. A scientist named D.L.Jones first named it Oligochaeochilus psammophilus. He wrote about it in a magazine called The Orchadian.
Later, in 2008, another scientist named Robert Bates changed its name to Pterostylis psammophila. The second part of its scientific name, psammophila, comes from ancient Greek words. Psámmos means 'sand,' and phílos means 'friend.' So, its name means 'sand-loving'!
Where Does It Live?
The two-bristle greenhood is very rare. It is only found in two small areas near Lyndoch in South Australia.
Protecting This Plant
This special orchid is in big trouble. It is listed as "critically endangered" under a law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This means it's in great danger of disappearing forever.
The two-bristle greenhood faces several threats. People sometimes try to collect it illegally, which harms its small populations. Also, unwanted plants, called weeds, can grow and take over its space. Animals like farm animals and rabbits also eat the plants, which makes it harder for them to survive.
