Prasophyllum rogersii

Prasophyllum rogersii, commonly known as the Barrington Tops leek orchid is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single tubular leaf and up to twenty five reddish-brown flowers and only occurs in a few locations at higher altitudes.

Barrington Tops 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. odoratum
Binomial name
Prasophyllum odoratum

Description

Prasophyllum rogersii is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped leaf 150–300 mm (6–10 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide. Between five and twenty five flowers are crowded along a flowering spike 70–120 mm (3–5 in) long, reaching to a height of 200–300 mm (8–10 in). The flowers are reddish-brown or orange-brown. 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, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in). The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, about 7 mm (0.3 in) long, free from and parallel to each other. The petals are about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and curve forwards. The labellum is white, egg-shaped, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long, about 5 mm (0.2 in) wide and turns sharply upwards with crinkled edges. There is a raised, shiny callus in the centre of the labellum and extending almost to its tip. Flowering occurs in December and January.[2][3]

This orchid has been confused with P. niphopedium in Victoria[4] and with P. perangustum in Tasmania.[5] It is closely related to P. frenchii.[6]

Taxonomy and naming

Prasophyllum rogersii was first formally described in 1928 by Herman Rupp and the description was published in Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales.[1][7] The specific epithet (rogersii) honours Richard Sanders Rogers whom Rupp described as "our recognized leader in the field of Australian orchidology".[7]

Distribution and habitat

The Barrington Tops leek orchid grows in moist, grassy places in montane to subalpine habitats in the Barrington Tops National Park.[4][3]

References
  1. "Prasophyllum rogersii". APNI. Retrieved 22 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. 213. ISBN 978-1877069123.
  3. Bernhardt, Peter; Rowe, Ross. "Prasophyllum rogersii". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney - plantnet. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  4. Jeanes, Jeff. "Prasophyllum niphopedium". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  5. Jones, David L. (1998). "Contributions to Tasmanian Orchidology". Australian Orchid Research. 3: 119.
  6. Bates, Robert J. (1990). "Prasophyllum litorale A new species of Orchidaceae from south-west Victoria and adjacent South Australia" (PDF). Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden. 13: 59. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  7. Rupp, Herman (1928). "Terrestrial Orchids of Barrington Tops". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 53: 340–341. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
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