Prasophyllum paulinae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pauline's 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. paulinae |
| Binomial name | |
| Prasophyllum paulinae | |
Prasophyllum paulinae, commonly known as Pauline's leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, rare leek orchid with a single smooth, tubular leaf and up to seventy yellowish-green and purple flowers.
Prasophyllum paulinae is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single smooth dark green, tube-shaped leaf with a whitish base and 100–180 mm (4–7 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) in diameter. Between twenty five and seventy flowers are arranged on a flowering stem 80–250 mm (3–10 in) long reaching to a height of 150–400 mm (6–20 in). The flowers are greenish-yellow and purple, about 6 mm (0.2 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide. 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 about 4 mm (0.2 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and the lateral sepals are about 4 mm (0.2 in) long and 1–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide and fused at their bases but with elongated tips. The petals are about 3 mm (0.1 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and turn forwards. The labellum has reddish or purplish markings and is about 5 mm (0.2 in) long, 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and turns sharply upwards near its middle. The edges of the labellum are reddish and crinkled and there is a dark callus in its centre, extending almost to the tip. Flowering occurs from September to November and is enhanced by fires the previous summer.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
Prasophyllum paulinae was first formally described in 1996 by David Jones and Mark Clements and the description was published in Nuytsia.[1] The specific epithet (paulinae) honours Pauline Heberle.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Pauline's leek orchid grows with grasses and sedges in swamps near Albany in the Jarrah Forest biogeographic region.[3][4][5]
