Prasophyllum brevilabre

Prasophyllum brevilabre, commonly known as short-lip leek orchid,[2] is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to thirty small, greenish-brown flowers with a white labellum. The labellum is sharply turned back on itself so that its tip almost reaches its base.

Prasophyllum brevilabre flower detail

Short-lip leek orchid
Prasophyllum brevilabre growing on Black Mountain in the A.C.T.
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. brevilabre
Binomial name
Prasophyllum brevilabre

Description

Prasophyllum brevilabre is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped leaf up to 350 mm (10 in) long with the free part 20–80 mm (0.8–3 in) long. Up to thirty flowers are well-spaced along a flowering spike 150–500 mm (6–20 in) tall. The flowers are greenish-brown and 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, reddish-brown and 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long. The lateral sepals are about 10 mm (0.4 in) long, sometimes joined together but often free from each other. The petals are linear to lance-shaped, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, sometimes wavy and sometimes sickle-shaped. The labellum is spoon-shaped, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. It is turned back on itself so that its tip almost touches its base, and its edges are wavy. Flowering occurs from September to January, most prolifically after fire the previous summer.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

The short-lip leek orchid was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley who gave it the name Prasophyllum lutescens var. brevilabre and published the description in The genera and species of orchidaceous plants.[6] In 1859 Joseph Dalton Hooker changed the name to Prasophyllum brevilabre.[7][8] The specific epithet (brevilabre) is derived from the Latin words brevis meaning "short"[9]: 708  and labrum meaning "lip".[9]: 487 

Distribution and habitat

Prasophyllum brevilabre occurs in south-eastern Queensland, the coastal New South Wales and sometimes as far inland as Mount Kaputar, in the higher rainfall areas of Victoria and is widespread in Tasmania. It grows in a variety of habitats from coastal heath to forest, sometimes in subalpine regions.[3][4][8]

References
  1. "Prasophyllum brevilabre". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  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. 192. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Bernhardt, Peter; Rowe, Ross. "Prasophyllum brevilabre". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney - plantnet. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  4. Jeanes, Jeff. "Prasophyllum brevilabre". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria - vicflora. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  5. Mayfield, Enid (2010). Flora of the Otway plain & ranges (2nd ed.). Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. p. 136. ISBN 9780643098046.
  6. "Prasophyllum lutescens var. brevilabre". APNI. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  7. "Prasophyllum brevilabre". APNI. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  8. Jones, David L. (1998). "Contributions to Tasmanian Orchidology". Australian Orchid Research. 3 (6): 102.
  9. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
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