Prasophyllum beatrix, commonly known as Marung leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single tubular leaf and up to thirty five scented flowers with yellowish-green or purplish markings and is mainly confined to New South Wales.
| Marung leek orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Subtribe: | Prasophyllinae |
| Genus: | Prasophyllum |
| Species: | P. beatrix
|
| Binomial name | |
| Prasophyllum beatrix | |
Description
editPrasophyllum beatrix is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped, dark green leaf up to 600 mm (20 in) long and 2–8 mm (0.08–0.3 in) wide at the base, with the free part up to 250 mm (10 in) long. Between eight and thirty five scented white flowers with yellowish-green or purplish markings are crowded along a robust flowering spike 50–120 mm (2–5 in) long. 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 lance-shaped to narrow egg-shaped, 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long. The lateral sepals are a similar size to the dorsal sepal and are usually free each other. The petals are linear to lance-shaped and 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long. The labellum is white, 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long, turns upwards at more than 90° and has crinkled edges. Flowering occurs from September to October.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editPrasophyllum beatrix was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones and Dean Rouse from a specimen collected from the Buckingbong State Forest near Narrandera and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[4] The specific epithet (beatrix) is a Latin word beatusmeaning "she that makes happy",[5] referring to "the pleasant feelings engendered when finding this species in its natural habitat'.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThis leek orchid grows in grassy woodland in New South Wales but there is a single record from the Terrick Terrick National Park in Victoria.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Prasophyllum beatrix". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ a b Jones, David L. (2006). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 5: 144–145.
- ^ a b Walsh, Neville. "Prasophyllum beatrix". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria - vicflora. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ "Prasophyllum beatrix". APNI. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 447.