Sale greenhood facts for kids

The Sale greenhood (Pterostylis incognita) is a special type of orchid plant. It belongs to the orchid family, which is called Orchidaceae. This plant is found only in Victoria, Australia. It has a group of leaves that grow in a circle, like a rose, at its base. When it blooms, it can have up to twelve flowers packed closely together on a single stem.

The very first sample of this plant was found near Sale in 1895. However, scientists did not officially name or describe it until 2009. By that time, people thought this unique orchid had already disappeared forever.

What Does the Sale Greenhood Look Like?

The Sale greenhood, or Pterostylis incognita, is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. This means it is a perennial plant, coming back year after year. It is also deciduous, losing its leaves at certain times.

At the bottom of the plant, there is a rosette of leaves. There are usually five to seven of these leaves. Each leaf is shaped like an egg and is about 8 to 20 millimeters (0.3 to 0.8 inches) long. They are also about 4 to 11 millimeters (0.16 to 0.43 inches) wide.

Flowers of the Sale Greenhood

The flowers grow on a tall stem, which is called a flowering spike. This spike can be about 80 to 130 millimeters (3.1 to 5.1 inches) high. There are usually five to twelve flowers crowded together on this stem. Three to five stem leaves wrap around the flowering spike.

Each flower is about 8 to 12 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long. The top part of the flower, called the "galea," looks like a hood. This hood is made from the sepal and petals joined together. It covers the central part of the flower. The galea stands up straight at first, then gently curves, with its tip suddenly pointing downwards.

The side parts of the flower, called lateral sepals, point downwards. They are about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.20 inches) long and 5 to 6 millimeters (0.20 to 0.24 inches) wide. They are cupped and joined for part of their length. At their ends, they have narrow tips about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) long. The labellum, which is a special lip-like petal, is about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long and wide. It is green and has a dark green part near its base.

The Sale greenhood usually blooms during the months of September and October.

How the Sale Greenhood Got Its Name

The Sale greenhood was first officially described in 2009 by a scientist named David Jones. He gave it the name Hymenochilus incognitus. This description came from a plant sample collected way back in 1895 by Miss M. Wise near Sale. The details were published in a scientific magazine called The Orchadian.

Then, in 2010, another scientist named Gary Backhouse changed its name to Pterostylis incognita. The second part of its scientific name, incognita, comes from a Latin word. It means "unknown." This name was chosen because the plant was "unknown" to science for a very long time after it was first found.

Where Did the Sale Greenhood Live?

Scientists believe that the Sale greenhood, Pterostylis incognita, used to grow in grassy areas or in forests with lots of grass. These areas were located near the town of Sale in Victoria, Australia.

Is the Sale Greenhood Still Around?

Sadly, no scientific samples of the Sale greenhood have been collected for over one hundred years. Because of this, scientists believe that this beautiful orchid is now extinct. This means it no longer exists anywhere in the world.