Cygnet greenhood facts for kids

Pterostylis spissa, commonly known as the cygnet greenhood, is a special plant in the orchid family. You can only find this plant in Victoria, Australia. Both the plants that are flowering and those that are not have a group of leaves that lie flat on the ground, shaped like a rosette. When the plant flowers, it can have up to twelve small, green flowers. These flowers have a green part called a labellum which has a dark green, beak-like tip.

What the Cygnet Greenhood Looks Like

The cygnet greenhood, Pterostylis spissa, is a plant that grows in the ground. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This plant is a herb and has a special underground part called a tuber.

Leaves and Stems

The plant has a group of five to nine leaves that lie flat on the ground. These leaves are about 5 to 15 mm (0.2 to 0.6 in) long and 3 to 8 mm (0.1 to 0.3 in) wide. The flowers grow on a stem that can be up to 120 mm (4.7 in) tall. This stem also has four to six leaves wrapped around its base.

The Flowers

The cygnet greenhood has between two and twelve yellowish-green flowers with darker green stripes. These flowers are about 6 to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) long. The top part of the flower, called the "galea," is formed by the dorsal sepal and petals joining together. This galea creates a hood over the center of the flower.

The dorsal sepal curves gently, then suddenly bends downwards near its tip. It's about the same length as the petals. The side sepals turn downwards and are joined together, forming a cup shape. These side sepals are about 3 to 4 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) long and 4 to 5 mm (0.2 in) wide. Their tips are about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and stay parallel to each other.

The labellum, a special part of the orchid flower, is about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and wide. It's pale green and has a dark green, beak-like tip. Cygnet greenhoods usually flower in October and November.

How It Was Named

Taxonomy and Meaning

The cygnet greenhood was first officially described in 2009 by a botanist named David Jones. He first called it Hymenochilus spissus. This description was published in a research paper called Australian Orchid Research, based on a plant found near Woorndoo. Later, in 2010, another botanist named Gary Backhouse changed its name to Pterostylis spissa.

The second part of its scientific name, spissa, is a Latin word. It means "close," "dense," or "thick."

Where It Lives

Habitat and Distribution

Pterostylis spissa is only found in a few places west of Melbourne. It grows in small areas of natural grassland that are left among basalt rocks.

Protecting the Cygnet Greenhood

Conservation Status

Sadly, Pterostylis spissa is considered critically endangered. This means it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever. It's only known to exist in a few small areas, mostly along roadsides.