Prasophyllum macrotys

Prasophyllum macrotys, commonly known as the inland leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single tubular leaf and up to thirty greenish to purplish flowers and is similar to the tall leek orchid (P. elatum) but has smaller, darker flowers.

Inland 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. macrotys
Binomial name
Prasophyllum macrotys

Description

Prasophyllum macrotys is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single smooth green, tube-shaped leaf 250–450 mm (10–20 in) long and 5–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) in diameter. Between ten and thirty or more flowers are arranged on a flowering stem 300–500 mm (10–20 in) tall. The flowers are yellowish-green to purplish-black, about 15 mm (0.6 in) long and 11–12 mm (0.4–0.5 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 lateral sepals are joined to each other and the relatively short petals face forwards. The labellum is white and narrowed near the middle, where it turns upwards through about 90°. The upturned part has a wavy edge. Flowering occurs from August to October.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Prasophyllum macrotys was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley and the description was published in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.[1] Lindley did not give a reason for using the specific epithet macrotys but "macrotys" is one of the common names given to the plant Actaea racemosa.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The inland leek orchid grows in woodland and shrubland between Kalbarri and Lake King in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions.[2][3][5]

Conservation

Prasophyllum macrotys is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[5]

References
  1. "Prasophyllum macrotys''". APNI. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  2. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 375. ISBN 9780646562322.
  3. Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 335. ISBN 9780980296457.
  4. "Black cohosh". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  5. "Prasophyllum macrotys''". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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