Prasophyllum fosteri

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Shelford leek orchid
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Prasophyllinae
Genus: Prasophyllum
Species:
P. fosteri
Binomial name
Prasophyllum fosteri

Prasophyllum fosteri, commonly known as the Shelford leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small region of Victoria. It has a single tubular green leaf and up to twenty five green to reddish-brown flowers. It is a very rare orchid, only known from a single population on a roadside.

Contents

Description

Prasophyllum fosteri is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped leaf up to 100 mm (4 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide at the base. Between ten and twenty five scented flowers are arranged along a flowering stem 60–120 mm (2–5 in) long reaching to a height of 200–400 mm (8–20 in). The flowers are greenish to reddish-brown and as with others in the genus, are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped to lance-shaped, 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and points forwards. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long, parallel to and free from each other. The petals are more or less linear in shape, 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and turn forwards. The labellum is egg-shaped, white pinkish, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and turns upwards through about 90° near its middle. The edges of the labellum are crinkled and there is a broad, raised callus in its centre. Flowering occurs from September to October. [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Prasophyllum fosteri was first formally described in 2000 by David Jones and the description was published in The Orchadian from a specimen collected near Shelford. [1]

Distribution and habitat

The Shelford leek orchid is only known from a single population growing on a roadside in the Shelford district. It grows in open native grasslands dominated by Themeda triandra in an area subject in the past to extensive clearing for agriculture. [3]

Conservation

Prasophyllum fosteri is listed as "Critically Endangered" under the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act and as "Vulnerable" under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 . The main threats to the population are its small size, weed invasion livestock movement and road maintenance. The population is not in a conservation reserve. [3]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Prasophyllum frenchii</i> Species of plant

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<i>Prasophyllum fuscum</i> Species of orchid

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Prasophyllum gilgai, commonly known as the gilgai leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Victoria. It has a single tubular green leaf and up to twenty greenish brown, light brown, pink or white flowers. It is a very rare orchid with a population of fewer than fifty plants in a small area in the north of the state.

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Prasophyllum incorrectum, commonly known as the golfer's leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single tubular, dark green leaf and up to twenty scented, yellowish-green and reddish-brown flowers. The largest population occurs on a golf course.

Prasophyllum keltonii, commonly known as Kelton's leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small region of New South Wales. It has a single tubular, bright green leaf and up to twenty two scented, green, brownish-red or purplish flowers. It is a very rare orchid with only a few hundred plants known.

<i>Prasophyllum maccannii</i> Species of orchid

Prasophyllum maccannii, commonly known as the inland leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Victoria. It has a single tubular green leaf and up to forty green, greenish-pink or brownish flowers. It is found in the central-west of the state, growing in open forest.

Prasophyllum milfordense is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single tubular, dark green leaf and up to thirty greenish-brown, white and purplish flowers. It is a very rare orchid, only found in a single location with a population of around 240 plants.

Prasophyllum niphopedium, commonly known as the marsh leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area in Victoria. It has a single tubular leaf and up to twenty greenish flowers with reddish markings. It is only known from five population on grassy alpine plains with the total number of individual plants less than five hundred.

Prasophyllum olidum, commonly known as the pungent leek orchid is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single tubular, green to yellowish-green leaf and up to thirty bright green to brownish-green flowers. It is a very rare orchid, only found in a single location with a population which fluctuates from three to two hundred flowering plants.

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Prasophyllum pulchellum, commonly known as the pretty leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to twelve light reddish-brown flowers with a cream-coloured to whitish labellum. It is widely distributed in Tasmania and only about 130 plants are known but it is difficult to locate in the low heath where it grows and more individuals may survive.

Prasophyllum retroflexum, commonly known as the congested leek orchid or Kiandra leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area near the border between New South Wales and Victoria, growing in subalpine herbfields. It has a single tubular leaf and up to forty densely-crowded, pale green flowers with pinkish markings.

Prasophyllum suaveolens, commonly known as the fragrant leek orchid, is a species of orchid species endemic to inland Victoria. It has a single bright green, tube-shaped leaf with a reddish base and up to twenty five green to yellowish-green flowers with red markings. The flowers are the smallest of any leek orchid found in Victoria.

Prasophyllum uvidulum, commonly known as the summer leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Victoria. It has a single, tubular leaf and up to twenty five scented, pale green flowers with reddish markings and is only known from a swamp in the north-east of the state.

References

  1. 1 2 "Prasophyllum fosteri". APNI. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  2. Jeanes, Jeff. "Prasophyllum fosteri". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria - vicflora. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Shelford leek orchid - Prasophyllum fosteri" (PDF). Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment. Retrieved 15 November 2017.