Tawny leek-orchid (Prasophyllum fuscum)
Description
Prasophyllum fuscum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped leaf 150–400 mm (6–20 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide at the base. Between ten and thirty scented flowers are arranged along 70–120 mm (3–5 in) of a flowering stem 300–450 mm (10–20 in) tall. The flowers are greenish brown to reddish brown, 9–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and as with others in the genus, are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped to lance-shaped, about 9 mm (0.4 in) long, 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and pointed. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 2 mm (0.079 in) wide and parallel to and free from each other. The petals are linear to oblong, pointed, about 7 mm (0.3 in) long, 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide and spread widely. The labellum is linear to egg-shaped, 8–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, about 5 mm (0.2 in) and turns upwards through about 90° near its middle. The edges of the labellum are slightly crinkled and there is a shiny, raised callus in its centre. Flowering occurs between September and December.
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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