Prasophyllum caricetum

Prasophyllum caricetum, commonly known as the Cathcart leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area of southern New South Wales. It has a single tubular, bright green leaf and up to twenty five green, white and purplish flowers crowded on the flowering stem. It grows in montane swamps near Cathcart.

Cathcart leek orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Prasophyllinae
Genus: Prasophyllum
Species:
P. caricetum
Binomial name
Prasophyllum caricetum

Description

Prasophyllum caricetum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped leaf, shiny, bright green leaf 200–350 mm (7.9–14 in) long with a whitish base. Between five and twenty five flowers are crowded along the flowering spike. The flowers are green with purplish and white petals and a white labellum. 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 to lance-shaped, 7.5–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long, about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and curves upwards. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 7.5–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long, about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and sometimes joined together. The petals are linear in shape and about the same dimensions as the lateral sepals. The labellum is broadly oblong or elliptic to egg-shaped, 8–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide, turns upwards and has a wavy edge. Flowering occurs from December to February.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Prasophyllum caricetum was first formally described in 2000 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Cathcart and the description was published in The Orchadian.[1]

Distribution and habitat

This leek orchid grows in swamps with sedges and rush-like members of the family Restionaceae between Cathcart and Majors Creek.

References
  1. "Prasophyllum caricetum". APNI. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  2. Weston, Peter. "Prasophyllum caricetum". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney - plantnet. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
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