Sydney plains rustyhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sydney plains rustyhood |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
saxicola
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| Synonyms | |
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Oligochaetochilus saxicola (D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Sydney plains rustyhood, also called the Sydney plains greenhood, is a special type of orchid. Its scientific name is Pterostylis saxicola. This plant is found only in New South Wales, Australia. It has a group of leaves at its base, shaped like a rosette. The plant grows up to ten reddish-brown flowers. These flowers have clear "windows" and look a bit like insects.
Contents
What Does This Orchid Look Like?
The Sydney plains rustyhood is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It also loses its leaves each year, making it deciduous.
Leaves and Stems
This orchid usually has five to eight egg-shaped leaves. These leaves are about 15 to 45 mm (0.6 to 1.8 in) long. They are also about 5 to 15 mm (0.2 to 0.6 in) wide. When the plant flowers, the leaves at the base often dry up. The flowering stem can grow 150 to 350 mm (6 to 14 in) tall. It has two to four stem leaves wrapped around it.
Flowers
Up to ten reddish-brown flowers grow on the stem. Each flower is about 30 to 35 mm (1.2 to 1.4 in) long. They are also about 9 to 11 mm (0.35 to 0.43 in) wide. The flowers lean forward and have clear parts, like small windows.
The top part of the flower, called the "galea," forms a hood. This hood is made from the dorsal sepal and petals. The dorsal sepal has a narrow tip about 2 to 3 mm (0.08 to 0.12 in) long. The side sepals point downwards. They are wider than the galea and have narrow tips. These tips are about 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) long.
The labellum is a special part of the flower. It is dark brown, thick, and looks like an insect. It is about 4 to 6 mm (0.16 to 0.24 in) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) wide. The "head" end of the labellum is thick and has short hairs. The "body" part has three to five longer hairs on each side. These orchids usually bloom from August to November.
How This Orchid Got Its Name
The scientific name Pterostylis saxicola was first officially described in 1997. Two botanists, David Jones and Mark Clements, gave it this name. Their description was published in a journal called The Orchadian.
Where This Orchid Lives
The Sydney plains rustyhood is quite rare. It grows in small, shallow patches of soil. You can find it on flat sandstone rock shelves. It also grows on mossy rocks in small valleys called gullies. This orchid is only known from five places in the Sydney area. These locations are between Picnic Point and Picton.
Protecting This Special Orchid
The Sydney plains rustyhood is listed as "endangered" by the Australian Government. This means it is at a high risk of disappearing forever. This listing is under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Threats to Its Survival
Several things threaten this orchid's survival:
- Habitat Loss: New buildings and developments destroy the places where it grows.
- Damage to Land: Uncontrolled access by people or animals grazing can harm its habitat.
- Weed Invasion: Weeds can grow and take over the space the orchid needs.
- Fire: Fires that happen too often or at the wrong time can also hurt the plants.
