Prasophyllum milfordense
| Milford leek orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Subtribe: | Prasophyllinae |
| Genus: | Prasophyllum |
| Species: |
P. milfordense
|
| Binomial name | |
| Prasophyllum milfordense |
|
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.
Contents
Description
Prasophyllum milfordense, commonly known as the Milford leek orchid is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped, dark green leaf which is 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 near its reddish-purple base. Between five and thirty greenish-brown, white and purplish flowers are loosely arranged along a flowering spike which is Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long. The flowers are Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). wide and as with other leek orchids, are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is lance-shaped to egg-shaped, Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long, about Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). wide and greenish-brown with darker stripes. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long, about Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). wide, greenish-brown and free from each other. The petals are linear to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long, about Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). wide and white with greenish or purplish markings. The labellum is white, narrow lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long, about Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). wide and turns sharply upwards near its middle, reaching to the lateral sepals or higher. The edges of the upturned part of the labellum are slightly wavy and there is a fleshy green, channelled callus in its centre. Flowering occurs from late October to early December.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
Prasophyllum milfordense was first formally described in 1998 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Cambridge and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[1] The specific epithet (milfordense) refers to the name of the private property where the species is found.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The Milford leek leek orchid grows in grassland in an area near Hobart with below average rainfall for the state. [2]
Conservation
Prasophyllum milfordense is only known from a small area of a single private property and in 2012, the total population was estimated to be 240 plants. In some drought years, no plants are seen. It is classed as "Endangered" under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and as Critically Endangered under the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act. The main threats to the population are the activities of rabbits, land clearance, inappropriate fire regimes and changes to rainfall patterns.[3][4]
References
External links
Data related to Prasophyllum milfordense at Wikispecies
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