Tuart rufous greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tuart rufous greenhood |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
frenchii
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| Synonyms | |
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Oligochaetochilus frenchii (M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones) Szlach. |
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The tuart rufous greenhood, also called the tuart rustyhood, is a special type of plant. It belongs to the orchid family. This plant is only found in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area, growing naturally nowhere else in the world. Both young plants and those ready to flower have a group of leaves shaped like a circle, called a rosette. When the plant flowers, it can have up to twelve white and green, or white and brown, flowers. These flowers lean forward and have a small, fleshy part that looks like an insect. This part is called a labellum.
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What Does the Tuart Greenhood Look Like?
The tuart rufous greenhood, or Pterostylis frenchii, is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, losing its leaves at certain times. This plant is a herb, meaning it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree. It grows from an underground part called a tuber.
Each plant has a rosette of four to twelve leaves. These leaves are about 15–35 mm (0.6–1 in) long and 12–25 mm (0.5–1 in) wide. When the plant is ready to flower, it grows a tall stem. The leaves at the bottom usually dry up by the time the flowers appear.
The plant produces between two and twelve or more flowers. These flowers are a mix of translucent white and green, or brown. They lean forward and are about 23–28 mm (0.9–1 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. They grow on a flowering stem that can be 150–400 mm (6–20 in) tall.
Flower Parts
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, and the petals join together. They form a hood over the central part of the flower, which is called the "column." This hood is also known as a "galea." The dorsal sepal has a narrow tip about 7 mm (0.3 in) long.
The side sepals, called lateral sepals, point downwards. They are smooth and about the same width as the galea. They narrow suddenly into tips that are 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long. These tips turn forward and are mostly parallel to each other.
The labellum is a special part of the flower. It is fleshy, dark brown, and looks a bit like an insect. It is about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. This labellum is covered with both long and short hairs. The tuart rufous greenhood flowers during November and December.
How the Tuart Greenhood Got Its Name
The tuart rufous greenhood was first officially described in 2004. It was named by David Jones and first called Oligochaetochilus frenchii. The very first plant specimen used to describe the species, called the type specimen, was found by Chris French in Yalgorup National Park. The description was then published in a scientific journal called The Orchadian.
Later, in 2007, another botanist named Andrew Brown changed its name to Pterostylis frenchii. The second part of its scientific name, frenchii, was chosen to honor Chris French, who first collected the plant.
Where the Tuart Greenhood Lives
This greenhood orchid grows in sandy areas. It prefers woodlands and shrublands that are close to the coast. You can find it between the towns of Bunbury and Perth in a region called the Swan Coastal Plain. This area is part of a larger natural region known as an biogeographic region.
Protecting the Tuart Greenhood
The Pterostylis frenchii is considered a "Priority Two" plant by the Western Australian Government. This classification comes from the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
What does "Priority Two" mean? It means that this plant is not very well known. It has only been found in a few places. Because of this, it needs special attention to make sure its habitats are protected and it can continue to grow.
