Small rosette snail orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Small rosette snail orchid |
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| Pterostylis microphylla at the type location near Gull Rock | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
microphylla
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| Synonyms | |
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Diplodium microphyllum (D.L.Jones & C.J.French) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Pterostylis microphylla, also called the small rosette snail orchid, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
Like other similar orchids, the small rosette snail orchid looks different depending on if it is flowering or not. When it is not flowering, it has a group of leaves that lie flat on the ground. This group of leaves is called a rosette. When the plant flowers, it grows a single flower on a tall stem. This flower is usually white and green. It has thin, upright side parts called sepals and a small labellum, which is a special lip-like petal.
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About the Small Rosette Snail Orchid
The small rosette snail orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times of the year. This orchid grows from an underground part called a tuber, which is like a small storage root.
When the plant is not flowering, it has a rosette of small leaves. This rosette is about 10 to 20 millimeters (about 0.4 to 0.8 inches) wide.
What the Flower Looks Like
Flowering plants have one green and white flower. The flower is about 10 to 15 millimeters (about 0.4 to 0.6 inches) long. It is also about 4 to 6 millimeters (about 0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide. The flower grows on a stem that is about 60 to 150 millimeters (about 2.4 to 5.9 inches) tall.
There are also two or three leaves on the flowering stem. These leaves are about 6 to 10 millimeters (about 0.24 to 0.39 inches) long. They are about 2 to 4 millimeters (about 0.08 to 0.16 inches) wide.
The top sepal and petals of the flower join together. They form a hood shape over the column, which is the central part of the orchid flower. The top sepal has a short, pointed tip. The side sepals stay close to this hood. They are about 10 to 20 millimeters (about 0.4 to 0.8 inches) long. They have thin tips that stand straight up. The labellum (the special lip petal) is very small. You usually cannot see it from outside the flower.
This orchid usually flowers from August to October.
How the Orchid Got Its Name
The small rosette snail orchid was first officially described in 2014. It was named by two botanists, David Jones and Christopher French. They found a sample of the plant near Gull Rock Road, which is east of Albany. They published their description in a magazine called Australian Orchid Review.
The second part of its scientific name, microphylla, comes from two Ancient Greek words. The word mikros means "small" or "little". The word phyllon means "leaf". So, microphylla means "small-leaved", which fits the plant's tiny leaves.
Where the Orchid Lives
The small rosette snail orchid grows in specific places. It likes to grow under thick bushes in wet, swampy areas. You can find it between the towns of Augusta and Albany. These areas are part of the Jarrah Forest and Warren regions of Western Australia.
Protecting the Orchid
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants and animals. They have listed Pterostylis microphylla as "not threatened". This means that, for now, there are enough of these orchids in the wild, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
