Prasophyllum striatum

Prasophyllum striatum, commonly known as the streaked leek orchid or eastern hunchback orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin, tube-shaped leaf and up to ten greenish and whitish flowers with reddish or purplish stripes. It differs from other leek orchids in having a very thin leaf and prominently streaked flowers.

Streaked leek orchid
Prasophyllum striatum growing near Blackheath
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]

Mecopodum striatum (R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Description

Prasophyllum striatum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped leaf 70–200 mm (3–8 in) long and about 0.5–1 mm (0.02–0.04 in) in diameter. The free part of the leaf is 25–70 mm (1–3 in) long. Up to ten flowers are arranged on a flowering spike 10–50 mm (0.4–2 in) high. The flowers are 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide on a short, thin ovary, and as with other leek orchids, are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is triangular, greenish with reddish or purplish stripes and is 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide. The lateral sepals are a similar size and colour to the dorsal sepal, fused to each other and curve backwards. The petals are whitish with reddish or purplish stripes and are about 8 mm (0.3 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The labellum is white, about 7 mm (0.3 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. It curves gently upwards and has wavy edges. There is a raised, creamy-white callus with two parallel ridges in the centre of the labellum and extending almost to its tip. Flowering occurs from March to June.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Prasophyllum striatum was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[1][4] The specific epithet (striatum) is a Latin word meaning "furrowed", "channelled" or "striped".[5]

In 2004 David Jones and Mark Clements proposed changing the name to Mecopodum striatum but the name has not been accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.[6]

Distribution and habitat

The striated leek orchid grows in shallow soil on sandstone and near swamps mainly near the coast from Bulahdelah to Nowra but also in the Blue Mountains.[2][3]

References
  1. "Prasophyllum striatum". APNI. Retrieved 27 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. 191. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Bernhardt, Peter; Rowe, Ross R. "Prasophyllum striatum". Royal botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum quas annis 1802-1805. London. p. 318. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 359.
  6. "Mecopodum striatum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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