Christmas leek orchid (Prasophyllum brownii)
Description
Prasophyllum brownii is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single smooth, light green, tube-shaped leaf 600–1,000 mm (20–40 in) long and 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) in diameter near the base. Between thirty and eighty or more flowers are arranged on a flowering spike 400–1,200 mm (20–50 in) high. The flowers are light green, white and fawn-coloured, 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 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 curves upwards and the petals face forwards, giving the flowers a cup-shaped appearance. The lateral sepals are erect and joined to each other by their sides. The labellum is broad, turns upwards but not as sharply as in other leek orchids, and has a frilly edge. Flowering occurs from November to January.
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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