Prasophyllum parvifolium

Prasophyllum parvifolium, commonly known as the autumn leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a common species in its range and has a single smooth, tube-shaped leaf and up to eighteen or more green and white flowers with red stripes.

Autumn 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. parvifolium
Binomial name
Prasophyllum parvifolium
Synonyms[1]

Prasophyllum macrostachyum R.Br.

Description

Prasophyllum parvifolium is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single smooth green, tube-shaped leaf 100–350 mm (4–10 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) in diameter. Between six and eighteen or more flowers are arranged on a flowering spike 150–400 mm (6–20 in) high. The flowers are green and white with red stripes, about 10 mm (0.4 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is broad and the lateral sepals and petals face forwards. The lateral sepals are free from each other and the labellum curves strongly upwards between the lateral sepals. Flowering occurs from June to August.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Prasophyllum parvifolium 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] The specific epithet (parvifolium) is derived from the Latin words parvus meaning "little"[4]:489 and folium meaning "leaf".[4]:466 referring to the free part of the leaf.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The autumn leek orchid is common in heath, woodland and forest between Eneabba and Manjimup in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions.[3][2][5]

Conservation

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

References
  1. "Prasophyllum parvifolium". APNI. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  2. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 362. 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. 316. ISBN 9780980296457.
  4. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  5. "Prasophyllum gracile". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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