Small bearded greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Small bearded greenhood |
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| Pterostylis tasmanica growing near Torquay | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
tasmanica
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| Synonyms | |
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Plumatichilos tasmanica (D.L.Jones) Szlach. |
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The Pterostylis tasmanica, often called the small bearded greenhood, is a type of orchid. It grows naturally in south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. This orchid has a single green flower with parts that you can see through, like little windows. It also has a long, thin "lip" (called a labellum) that is covered with golden hairs.
The small bearded greenhood looks a bit like another orchid, P. plumosa. However, the small bearded greenhood is shorter. It also has smaller leaves and flowers. Its "lip" is even more densely covered with feathery hairs.
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What the Small Bearded Greenhood Looks Like
The Small Bearded Greenhood is a plant that grows on land. It lives for many years and loses its leaves each year. This plant has an underground tuber, which is like a small, swollen stem that stores food.
It has between eight and fourteen dark green leaves. These leaves are grouped around the bottom of the stem and also grow upwards. Each leaf is about 10 to 25 millimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) long. They are also about 3 to 7 millimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) wide.
When the plant flowers, it has a single green bloom. This flower has parts that are see-through. The flower itself is about 18 to 25 millimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) long. It is also about 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. The flower grows on a stem that is about 80 to 140 millimeters (3 to 5.5 inches) tall.
The top part of the flower (called the dorsal sepal) and the petals join together. They form a hood, or "galea," over the central part of the flower (the column). The dorsal sepal has a short point at its end. The side parts of the flower (lateral sepals) point downwards. They are joined near their bases and have tips that narrow down. These tips are about 7 to 11 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long.
The "lip" of the flower, the labellum, is about 12 to 15 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. It is covered with bright yellow hairs that can be up to 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) long. The very end of the labellum has a dark brown knob. These flowers usually appear from September to November.
How It Got Its Name
The Small Bearded Greenhood was first officially described in 1994. A botanist named David Jones wrote about it. His description was published in a scientific journal called Muelleria. The plant he described was found near Temma in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area.
The second part of its scientific name, tasmanica, tells us where this greenhood is mostly found. It refers to the plant being centered around Tasmania and the Tasmanian basin.
Where It Grows
The small bearded greenhood likes to grow in coastal areas. You can find it in heathlands and scrublands near the sea. It is very common in Tasmania. It also grows on the south coast of New South Wales. You can find it in southern Victoria and the south-east of South Australia. It even grows on both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
How It Reproduces
The Small Bearded Greenhood can fertilize itself. This means it does not need pollen from another plant to make seeds. The part of the flower that holds the seeds (the ovary) is already swollen when the flowers open. This shows it is ready to produce seeds on its own.
