Prasophyllum pruinosum

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Plum 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. pruinosum
Binomial name
Prasophyllum pruinosum
Synonyms [2]
  • Prasophyllum fuscum var. grandiflorum Benth.

Prasophyllum pruinosum, commonly known as the plum leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to South Australia. It has a single tubular leaf and up to twenty green, brown and whitish flowers with a pink of purple tints.

Contents

Description

Prasophyllum pruinosum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped leaf 200–400 mm (8–20 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide with a reddish base. Between five and twenty flowers are arranged along a flowering spike 60–100 mm (2–4 in) long reaching to a height of 200–400 mm (8–20 in). The flowers are yellowish-green, brown, purple-plum and white and are lightly scented. As with others in the genus, the flowers are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is 6.5–8.5 mm (0.3–0.3 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and the lateral sepals are 7.5–9.5 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and free from each other. The petals are 7–8 mm (0.3–0.3 in) long, 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide, have a central dark band and turn forwards. The labellum is 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long, about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and turns sharply upwards near its middle, the upturned part with crinkled edges. There is a brownish callus in the centre of the labellum, reaching almost to its tip. Flowering occurs from September to November. [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Prasophyllum pruinosum was first formally described in 1909 by Richard Sanders Rogers and the description was published in Transactions, proceedings and report, Royal Society of South Australia . [1] [4] The specific epithet (pruinosum) is a Latin word meaning "frosty". [5]

Distribution and habitat

The plum leek orchid grows in woodland and grassy forest in the Black Hill Conservation Park and near Rowland Flat, although its range was once more extensive. [3] [6]

Conservation

Prasophyllum pruinosum is listed as "Endangered" under the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act and as "Vulnerable" under the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 . In 2008 the total population was estimated to be 280 plants in eight sites. The main threats to the population are competition from weeds, grazing by kangaroos, rabbits and livestock and by recreational activities. [7] [6]

Related Research Articles

Prasophyllum correctum, commonly known as the gaping leek orchid or Bairnsdale leek orchid, is a species of orchid species endemic to a small region in Victoria. It has a single dark green, tube-shaped leaf and up to twenty strongly scented, yellowish-green flowers and is only known from railway reserves near Bairnsdale.

<i>Prasophyllum tadgellianum</i> species of plant

Prasophyllum tadgellianum, commonly known as the alpine leek orchid, is a species of orchid native to the Snowy Mountains and Tasmania. It has a single stiff, erect leaf and up to twenty scented, greenish-brown or reddish-brown flowers crowded on a stout spike.

<i>Prasophyllum affine</i> species of plant

Prasophyllum affine, commonly known as the heathland leek orchid or Jervis Bay leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to fifty scented, green, red, brown and purple flowers. Although the type specimen was collected in the Sydney area in 1803, the species in now only known from three locations near Jervis Bay.

Prasophyllum amoenum, commonly known as the dainty leek orchid or Snug leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single tubular, green leaf with a purplish base and between five and twelve light green, dark brown and white flowers. In 2007, the entire population was estimated to be about 600 plants.

<i>Prasophyllum petilum</i> species of plant

Prasophyllum petilum, commonly known as the Tarengo leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to eighteen pinkish mauve to greenish flowers, well-spaced along a slender flowering stem. It is a small orchid, difficult to locate, generally growing in taller grasses.

Prasophyllum apoxychilum, commonly known as the tapered leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single tubular, green leaf with a purplish base and up to twenty light green and whitish flowers. It is very similar to P. truncatum, and there is some doubt as to whether the two species are distinct. The species is known from twenty widely separated populations and is usually only seen in disturbed sites, such as after fire.

Prasophyllum favonium, commonly known as the western leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single tubular leaf with a reddish base and between five and fifteen brownish flowers with a dark purple labellum. In 2000, the entire population was estimated to be less than forty mature plants in a very small area.

Prasophyllum goldsackii, commonly known as Goldsack's leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to South Australia. It has a single tubular green leaf and up to twelve green flowers with dark purple edges and tips. It is only known from two populations on each of the Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas.

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 laxum, commonly known as the lax leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small region of South Australia. It has a single tubular leaf and up to twenty pale green, tan and lilac-coloured flowers. It was first collected in the 1960s in a location known as the Hundred of Koppio on the Eyre Peninsula but was not described until 2008 from a new collection in 2004.

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 occultans, commonly known as the hidden leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to southern Australia. It has a single, smooth, tube-shaped leaf with a reddish-purple base and up to ten greenish flowers. It is a rare species found only in a few locations in South Australia and in far western Victoria.

Prasophyllum pallidum, commonly known as the pale leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a south-eastern South Australia. It has a single tubular leaf and up to thirty green or yellowish-green flowers. It was previously thought to occur in Victoria but records from that state are now recognised as P. roseum.

<i>Prasophyllum tunbridgense</i> species of plant

Prasophyllum tunbridgense, commonly known as the Tunbridge leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single tubular, bright green leaf and up to twenty five relatively large, green to light greenish-brown flowers with white petals and a large white labellum.

Prasophyllum validum, commonly known as the Mount Remarkable leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to South Australia. It has a single tubular leaf and up to forty five green to yellowish-green flowers with a white labellum. A similar leek orchid occurring in Victoria, previously included in this species, is known recognised as the undescribed Prasophyllum sp. aff. validum.

Prasophyllum fitzgeraldii, commonly known as FitzGerald's leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to South Australia. It has a single tube-shaped leaf and up to thirty five green or reddish-brown flowers with a pink to purple labellum. It was previously thought to also occur in Victoria.

Prasophyllum mimulum, commonly known as the highland leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to ten greenish-brown to purplish flowers with purple and white petals and a white labellum. It is restricted to subalpine areas of the state.

Prasophyllum nitidum, commonly known as the shining leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to southern continental Australia. It has a single tube-shaped leaf and up to twenty maroon, magenta or purple and green flowers with a pale purple to maroon labellum. It is a recently described plant, previously included with P. fitzgeraldii, but distinguished from that species by its shorter flower spike, glossy flowers and shining, raised labellum callus. It grows in the south-east of South Australia and in a single location in western Victoria.

Prasophyllum constrictum, commonly known as the tawny leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to South Australia. It has a single tubular leaf and up to thirty five scented, brown or reddish-brown flowers with a pink or purplish labellum. Richard Sanders Rogers, who named this species, described the flowers as "prune-coloured".

Prasophyllum murfetii, commonly known as the Fleurieu leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to South Australia. It has a single tubular leaf and up to thirty five greenish-brown, pink and white flowers. It only grows around the edges of swamps on the Fleurieu Peninsula. It is similar to P. frenchii and was formerly included in that species.

References

  1. 1 2 "Prasophyllum pruinosum". APNI. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  2. "Prasophyllum pruinosum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. 1 2 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 212. ISBN   1877069124.
  4. Rogers, Richard S. "A critical review of south Australian Prasophylla together with a description of some new species". Transactions, Proceedings and Report,Royal Society of South Australia. 33 (2): 211–212. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 432.
  6. 1 2 "Prasophyllum pruinosum" (PDF). Government of South Australia Department for Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  7. "Approved Conservation Advice for Prasophyllum pruinosum (Plum Leek-orchid)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 December 2017.