Prasophyllum diversiflorum
| Gorae leek orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Subtribe: | Prasophyllinae |
| Genus: | Prasophyllum |
| Species: |
P. diversiflorum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Prasophyllum diversiflorum |
|
Prasophyllum brevilabre, commonly known as the short-lip leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to south-western Victoria. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to forty greenish-brown flowers with reddish markings. It is a very rare orchid, now only known from two small, scattered populations. It was first recorded from Gorae West near Portland but is no longer found there.
Contents
Description
Prasophyllum diversiflorum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tapering, tube-shaped leaf up to Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long and Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). wide at the base. Between ten and forty scented flowers are crowded along a flowering spike Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long. The flowers are up to Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). wide and greenish-brown with reddish markings. 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 egg-shaped, up to Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long with a pointed tip. The lateral sepals are lance-shaped, Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long, curved and free from each other. The petals are narrow linear in shape and Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long. The labellum is egg-shaped, white to pinkish, dished and Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long. It is turns upward near its middle and its edges are wavy. Flowering occurs from December to January.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
Prasophyllum diversiflorum was first formally described in 1942 by William Henry Nicholls and published the description in The Victorian Naturalist from a specimen collected from Gorae West.[1][5] The specific epithet (diversiflorum) is derived from the Latin words diversus meaning "diverse" or "different"[6]:264 and florum, the plural of flora meaning "flower".[6]:337 Nicholls noted [this species] "is probably the most variable, in regard to the floral characters, on record...".[5]
Distribution and habitat
The Gorae leek orchid occurs in south-western Victoria, growing in grassland and sedgeland which is often flooded in winter. It is only known from two small populations Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). apart.[2][4]
Conservation
Prasophyllum diversiflorum is classified as Threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and as Endangered under the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act. The main threats to the species are weed invasion, grazing and trampling, vehicle movement and roadside maintenance.[4][7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
Data related to Prasophyllum diversiflorum at Wikispecies
