Prasophyllum
Leek orchids | |
---|---|
P. petilum growing in the Australian Capital Territory | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
Tribe: | Diurideae |
Subtribe: | Prasophyllinae |
Genus: | Prasophyllum R.Br. (1810)
|
Type species | |
Prasophyllum australe R.Br.[1] | |
Diversity | |
About 140 species | |
Synonyms[2] | |
|
Prasophyllum, commonly known as leek orchids, is a
Description
Orchids in the genus Prasophyllum are terrestrial,
The
Taxonomy and naming
The genus Prasophyllum was first formally described by
The name Prasophyllum is derived from the Ancient Greek words prason meaning "leek"[10]: 573 and phyllon meaning "leaf".[10]: 466
Species
Distribution and habitat
Leek orchids occur in all states of Australia, but not in the Northern Territory. There are 20 named species in Western Australia as well as a further 40 that have been discovered but not as yet described.[4] There are 28 species in Tasmania,[3] about 40 in New South Wales[7] and 15 in South Australia.[11] New Zealand has about 6 species, occurring on both main islands as well as Stewart and Chatham Islands.[5][12] In Western Australia alone, they grow in a range of habitats from the margins of salt lakes, to swamps and dense Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) forests.[4]
Ecology
Prasophyllum species are mycotrophic, requiring symbiotic fungi for seed germination. The main fungus is Ceratobasidium cornigerum.[13][14]
Many Western Australian species only flower after summer fires and in other years only produce leaves. Most flowers are strongly scented, produce nectar and are pollinated by insects but a few appear able to self-pollinated if not visited. They often have flowers similar to grass trees in the genus Xanthorrhoea, flower under similar conditions and are visited by a similar range of insects, suggesting that they mimic grass tree flowers.[4][5]
Species
As at October 2017, about 140 species are recognised by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Eight species described in 2017 are not included on the Checklist yet but are included in the International Plant Names Index. They are P. crassum, P. nitidum, P. roseum, P. rousei, P. stygium, P. sylvicola, P. spadiceum and P. tortilis.[2][15]
Species list
See List of Prasophyllum species
-
Prasophyllum elatum at the Strettle Road Reserve Glen Forrest in Western Australia
-
Prasophyllum sargentii growing near Hopetoun Western Australia
-
Prasophyllum brevilabre growing on Black Mountain in the Australian Capital Territory
-
Prasophyllum lindleyanum growing near Melbourne in Victoria
-
Prasophyllum sylvestre near the Tuross River in New South Wales
-
Prasophyllum montanum in the Namadgi National Park in the Australian Capital Territory
References
- ^ a b Clements, Mark A. (1989). "Catalogue of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 1: 109.
- ^ a b "Prasophyllum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ a b c Jones, David L. (1998). "A Taxonomic Review of Prasophyllum R.Br. in Tasmania". Australian Orchid Research. 3: 94–134.
- ^ ISBN 9780646562322.
- ^ ISBN 0198507100.
- ^ Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b c Bernhardt, Peter H.; Rowe, Ross. "Genus Prasophyllum". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ "Prasophyllum". APNI. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 317. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ a b Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
- ^ "Prasophyllum". State Herbarium of South Australia: efloraSA. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ "Prasophyllum". New Zealand Native Orchids; New Zealand Orchid Group. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ISBN 0724365885.
- ^ McQualter, Emily; Cross, Rob; McLean, Cassandra B.; Ladiges, Pauline Y. "Mycorrhizal fungi of Prasophyllum". Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ "Prasophyllum". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- Jones, D.L. & Clements, M.A. (2005). "Miscellaneous nomenclature notes and changes in Australian, New Guinea and New Zealand Orchidaceae". The Orchadian. 15 (1): 41.
External links
- Media related to Prasophyllum at Wikimedia Commons
- West Australian orchids