Pauline's leek orchid

Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Prasophyllinae
Genus: Prasophyllum
Species:
P. paulinae
Binomial name
Prasophyllum paulinae

Prasophyllum paulinae, commonly known as Pauline's leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, rare leek orchid with a single smooth, tubular leaf and up to seventy yellowish-green and purple flowers.

Description

Prasophyllum paulinae is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single smooth dark green, tube-shaped leaf with a whitish base and 100–180 mm (4–7 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) in diameter. Between twenty five and seventy flowers are arranged on a flowering stem 80–250 mm (3–10 in) long reaching to a height of 150–400 mm (6–20 in). The flowers are greenish-yellow and purple, about 6 mm (0.2 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) 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 about 4 mm (0.2 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and the lateral sepals are about 4 mm (0.2 in) long and 1–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide and fused at their bases but with elongated tips. The petals are about 3 mm (0.1 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and turn forwards. The labellum has reddish or purplish markings and is about 5 mm (0.2 in) long, 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and turns sharply upwards near its middle. The edges of the labellum are reddish and crinkled and there is a dark callus in its centre, extending almost to the tip. Flowering occurs from September to November and is enhanced by fires the previous summer.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Prasophyllum paulinae was first formally described in 1996 by David Jones and Mark Clements and the description was published in Nuytsia.[1] The specific epithet (paulinae) honours Pauline Heberle.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Pauline's leek orchid grows with grasses and sedges in swamps near Albany in the Jarrah Forest biogeographic region.[3][4][5]

Conservation

Prasophyllum paulinae is classified as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife[5] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Prasophyllum paulinae". 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. 219. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. 1 2 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 357. ISBN 9780646562322.
  4. 1 2 3 Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 325. ISBN 9780980296457.
  5. 1 2 "Prasophyllum paulinae". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  6. ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
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