Dainty leek orchid
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Prasophyllum
Species:
P. amoenum
Binomial name
Prasophyllum amoenum

Prasophyllum amoenum, commonly known as the dainty leek orchid or Snug leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single tubular, green leaf with a purplish base and between five and twelve light green, dark brown and white flowers. In 2007, the entire population was estimated to be about 600 plants.

Description

Prasophyllum amoenum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped leaf, 120–300 mm (5–10 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide, the free part 40–60 mm (1.6–2.4 in) long. Between five and twelve flowers are loosely arranged along a flowering spike 30–50 mm (1–2 in) long reaching to a height of 150–350 mm (6–10 in). The flowers are greenish, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide with dark brown lateral sepals, white and red petals and a white or pinkish labellum. 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 a narrow egg-shape to lance-shape, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The lateral sepals are up to 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and spread apart from each other. The petals are narrow linear to lance-shaped, 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The labellum is 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and turns upwards, sometimes extending above the lateral sepals and its edges are wavy. Flowering occurs in January.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Prasophyllum amoenum was first formally described in 1998 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Snug and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[5][2] The specific epithet (amoenum) is a Latin word meaning "pleasant" or "delightful".[6][2]

Distribution and habitat

The dainty leek orchid grows with rushes, sedges and grasses in south-eastern Tasmania.[2]

Conservation

Prasophyllum amoenum is only found in five populations containing a total of 500-600 plants. In some years, no plants have been observed in flower because of drought or browsing. The species is classified as Vulnerable under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and as Endangered under the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act.

References

  1. ↑ "Prasophyllum amoenum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L. (1998). "Contributions to Tasmanian Orchidology". Australian Orchid Research. 3 (6): 99–100.
  3. ↑ "Conservation advice Prasophyllum amoenum" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "Prasophyllum amoenum dainty leek-orchid". Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  5. ↑ "Prasophyllum amoenum". APNI. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  6. ↑ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 75.
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