Western bearded greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western bearded greenhood |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
barbata
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| Synonyms | |
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Plumatichilos barbatus (Lindl.) Szlach. |
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The Western bearded greenhood or bird orchid (scientific name: Pterostylis barbata) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. When this plant flowers, it has a group of leaves called a rosette at its base. It also has a single, see-through white flower with dark green lines. This flower grows on a stem that can have up to 20 leaves. The Western bearded greenhood is one of several "bearded orchids." These orchids are known for their unique, feather-like lip, which is called a labellum.
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What the Western Bearded Greenhood Looks Like
The Pterostylis barbata is a plant that grows on land. It is 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 an underground tuber, which is like a swollen root that stores food.
When the plant is not flowering, it has a rosette of pointed leaves. These leaves don't have stalks. When the plant is flowering, it still has a similar rosette. It also has between ten and twenty leaves on its stem. The leaves are about 15 to 45 mm (0.6 to 1.8 in) long and 10 to 12 mm (0.4 to 0.5 in) wide. They are dark green with lighter green areas.
Usually, there is only one flower on each plant. The flower is about 55 to 65 mm (2.2 to 2.6 in) long and 12 to 14 mm (0.5 to 0.6 in) wide. It grows on a flowering stem that is 200 to 350 mm (7.9 to 14 in) tall. The flower leans slightly forward. It is shiny and a pale, see-through green. It has darker green lines and purple-brown marks on the front.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, and the petals are joined together. They form a hood, or "galea," over the central part of the flower called the column. The dorsal sepal has a thin point that is about 10 to 15 mm (0.4 to 0.6 in) long. The lateral sepals (side parts) are joined at their bases, which are dark reddish. The free parts of these sepals are narrow, green, and about 25 to 30 mm (1.0 to 1.2 in) long.
The most special part is the labellum, or lip, which is about 22 to 25 mm (0.9 to 1.0 in) long. It looks like a feather with a few pale yellow, thread-like branches. It also has a dark brown knob at its end. These orchids usually flower from July to September.
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How it Got its Name
The Pterostylis barbata was first officially described in 1840. This description was made by a person named John Lindley. It was published in a book called A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.
The second part of its scientific name, barbata, comes from a Latin word. This Latin word means "bearded," which makes sense because of the orchid's unique, beard-like lip!
Where the Western Bearded Greenhood Lives
The Western bearded orchid grows in areas with shrubs and trees, like woodlands and forests. You can often find it growing among thick layers of fallen leaves from Casuarina trees. It often grows in small groups.
This orchid is found between two towns in Western Australia: Bindoon and Albany. It is very common in the Darling Range, which is close to Perth. It lives in several different natural areas, including the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain, and Warren regions.
There are also twelve other types of Pterostylis orchids in Western Australia that haven't been officially named yet. When these are described, we might learn even more about where the Western bearded greenhood grows.
Protecting the Western Bearded Greenhood
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the Pterostylis barbata. They have decided that it is "not threatened." This means the plant is currently safe and not at risk of disappearing.
