Prasophyllum fosteri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shelford leek orchid | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| 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.
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]
