Emerald-lip leafy greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emerald-lip leafy greenhood |
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| Pterostylis smaragdyna growing in the Grampians National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
smaragdyna
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| Synonyms | |
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Bunochilus smaragdynus (D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Pterostylis smaragdyna, often called the emerald-lip leafy greenhood, is a special type of orchid plant. It belongs to the Orchidaceae family. This plant is found only in south-eastern Australia.
When this orchid flowers, it can have up to ten green flowers. These flowers are a bit see-through and have darker green patterns. Each flower has a part called a labellum. This labellum looks a bit like an insect. It is green with a darker green bump at one end, like a "head."
Plants that are not flowering have a group of leaves that grow in a circle, called a rosette. But when the plant is flowering, it does not have this rosette. Instead, it has five to seven leaves growing along its stem.
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What Does the Emerald-Lip Greenhood Look Like?
The Pterostylis smaragdyna is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times.
Leaves and Stems
If the plant is not flowering, it will have a rosette of leaves. There are usually three to five leaves in this rosette. Each leaf is shaped like a spear and is about 1 to 4.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1.8 inches) long. They are also about 0.4 to 0.8 centimeters (0.16 to 0.31 inches) wide.
When the plant flowers, it grows a tall spike. This spike can be 20 to 50 centimeters (7.9 to 20 inches) tall. It has five to seven long, narrow leaves along its stem. These stem leaves are about 2 to 10 centimeters (0.79 to 3.9 inches) long and 0.3 to 0.5 centimeters (0.12 to 0.20 inches) wide.
Flowers and Their Features
The flowers are a translucent green with darker green marks. The top part of the flower, made from the dorsal sepal and petals, forms a hood. This hood covers the column of the flower. The dorsal sepal has a small point at its tip.
The two side sepals point downwards. They are about 1.6 to 1.9 centimeters (0.63 to 0.75 inches) long and 0.7 to 0.8 centimeters (0.28 to 0.31 inches) wide. They are joined together for most of their length.
The most interesting part is the labellum. It looks like an insect! It is about 0.7 to 0.8 centimeters (0.28 to 0.31 inches) long and 0.4 centimeters (0.16 inches) wide. It is pale green with a dark green stripe down the middle. There is also a dark green bump at the "head" end. These orchids usually flower between June and August.
How Was This Orchid Named?
The Pterostylis smaragdyna was officially described in 1993. Two botanists, David Jones and Mark Clements, gave it its scientific name. They published their description in a journal called Muelleria. The first plant they studied was found near Diamond Creek.
The second part of its scientific name, smaragdyna, comes from a Latin word. Smaragdinus means "emerald green." This name was chosen because the orchid's labellum is a beautiful emerald green color.
Where Does the Emerald-Lip Greenhood Live?
The emerald-lip leafy greenhood grows in dry forests and woodlands. You can find it in the south-east part of New South Wales. It also grows in central Victoria, including some of the outer suburbs of Melbourne. You can also spot it in the south-east of South Australia.
