Prasophyllum plumiforme

Prasophyllum plumiforme, commonly known as the dainty leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small leek orchid with a single smooth, tubular leaf and up to fifty or more tiny cream-coloured or greenish-yellow flowers on a tall flowering stem.

Dainty 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. plumiforme
Binomial name
Prasophyllum plumiforme

Description

Prasophyllum plumiforme is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single smooth, tube-shaped leaf which is 200–350 mm (8–10 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) in diameter. Between fifteen and fifty or more flowers are moderately crowded on a flowering stem 80–150 mm (3–6 in) long reaching to a height of 300–600 mm (10–20 in). The flowers are cream-coloured to greenish-yellow, about 4 mm (0.2 in) long and 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 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and the lateral sepals are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and free from each other. The petals are about the same size as the lateral sepals and turn forwards. The labellum is about 4 mm (0.2 in) long, 3.5 mm (0.1 in) wide and turns obliquely upwards near its middle. The edges of the labellum are crinkled and there is a green callus along its centre. Flowering occurs from September to November. This leek orchid resembles P. ovale but is taller and has smaller, less crowded flowers.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Prasophyllum plumiforme was first formally described in 1882 by Robert FitzGerald and the description was published in The Gardeners' Chronicle.[1][5] The specific epithet (plumiforme) is derived from the Latin word pluma meaning "soft feather" or "down"[6]:322 with the suffix -forme meaning "shape",[6]:28 referring to the feather-like labellum.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The dainty leek orchid is widespread and often common in woodland and shrubland between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay.[2][3][4][7]

Conservation

Prasophyllum plumiforme is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[7]

References
  1. "Prasophyllum plumiforme". APNI. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 212. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 359. ISBN 9780646562322.
  4. Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 329. ISBN 9780980296457.
  5. Fitzgerald, Robert D. (1882). "New Australian orchids". The Gardeners' Chronicle. 17: 495. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  7. "Prasophyllum plumiforme". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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