Tapered leek orchid (Prasophyllum apoxychilum)
Description
Prasophyllum apoxychilum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped leaf, 150–250 mm (6–10 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, the free part 20–120 mm (0.8–5 in) long. Between eight and twenty flowers are arranged along a flowering spike 60–100 mm (2–4 in) long reaching to a height of 200–350 mm (8–10 in). The flowers are scented, light green, 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide with whitish petals and a white 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 narrow egg-shaped to lance-shaped, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide, turns downward and has a few dark stripes. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide, slightly curved and spread apart from each other. The petals are a similar size to the lateral sepals or slightly shorter and have a dark central band. The labellum is 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide, turns upwards, sometimes reaching above the lateral sepals and has a wavy edge. Flowering occurs from October to December and is stimulated by disturbance, such as by fire or mowing.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Asparagales
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Family: Orchidaceae
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Genus: Prasophyllum
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