Arthur River greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arthur River greenhood |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
rubenachii
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| Synonyms | |
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The Arthur River greenhood, known scientifically as Pterostylis rubenachii, is a special type of orchid plant. It belongs to the orchid family, called Orchidaceae. This plant is found only in Tasmania, Australia, which means it is endemic there.
Both flowering and non-flowering plants of this species have a group of leaves that spread out flat on the ground. This leaf arrangement is called a rosette. When the plant flowers, it can have up to seven flowers. These flowers are a clear green color with darker green stripes.
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What Does the Arthur River Greenhood Look Like?
The Arthur River 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 deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. It grows as a herb, which means it has soft stems, not woody ones.
This orchid has a rosette of four to six leaves. These leaves are shaped like an oval or an egg. Each leaf is about 15 to 20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and 6 to 10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. They lie flat on the ground.
The plant produces a flowering stem that is 30 to 80 mm (1–3 in) tall. On this stem, there are two or three leaves that wrap around its base. Between two and seven transparent green flowers grow close together on this stem. These flowers have darker green stripes. Each flower is about 8 to 9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and about 5 mm (0.2 in) wide.
The top part of the flower, called the "galea," looks like a hood. It's made from the sepal (a leaf-like part) at the back and the petals. The back sepal curves gently, then bends sharply downwards near its tip. It's about the same length as the petals. The side sepals point downwards. They are about 6 mm (0.2 in) long and 5 mm (0.2 in) wide. These sepals are joined together, forming a cup shape with tips about 1 mm (0.04 in) long.
Inside the flower, there's a small part called the labellum. It's about 3 mm (0.1 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The labellum is whitish-green and has a dark green tip or appendage. These orchids usually flower in October and November.
How Was it Named?
The Arthur River greenhood was first officially described in 1998. A botanist named David Jones gave it its formal scientific name, Pterostylis rubenachii. He described it from a plant sample that was collected a long time ago, in 1837. This description was published in a scientific book called Australian Orchid Research.
The second part of its scientific name, rubenachii, is a special honor. It was chosen to remember Les Rubenach. He is one of the few people who have ever found this rare orchid species.
Where Does it Live?
The Arthur River greenhood grows in wet, open areas called moist heath. These areas are found at low altitudes, usually between 10 and 30 meters (33–98 ft) above sea level. You can find this orchid in the Arthur River area of Tasmania.
Why is it Endangered?
The Arthur River greenhood is a very rare plant. It is listed as "endangered" by both the Australian Government and the Tasmanian Government. This means it is at a high risk of disappearing forever.
There are only about 800 of these plants left in the world. Most of them grow in a protected area called the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area. However, even there, they face several dangers. These threats include:
- Weed invasion: Weeds can grow quickly and take over the space and resources that the orchids need.
- Cattle grazing: Cows eating the plants can damage or destroy them.
- Off-road vehicles: Vehicles driving off designated roads can crush the plants and their habitat.
