Prasophyllum

Leek Orchids
Prasophyllum elatum at Strettle Road Reserve
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Orchidoideae
Tribe:	Diurideae
Subtribe:	Prasophyllinae
Genus:	Prasophyllum R.Br. (1810)
Type species
Prasophyllum australe R.Br.[1]
Synonyms[2]
Chiloterus D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. Mecopodum D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Prasophyllum is a genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). Species of this genus are commonly called "Leek Orchids".

The botanical name is derived from the Greek words prason (leek) and phyllon (leaf), referring the leek-like leaf.

These deciduous terrestrial orchids occur in Australia, Tasmania and a few species in New Zealand,^[2] growing on poor, sandy soils in temperate heaths and grasslands.

All species have prominent subterranean, tuberous, storage organs. They are sometimes called root-stem tuberoids, because their pole incorporates stem tissues.

Prasophyllum species grow in mycorrhizal associations with the fungus Ceratobasidium.

One can recognize the genus easily by the hollow, sheathing leaf through which the inflorescence, a spike of small inverted flowers, emerges. But many of the species are not easy to determine. Many species only flower following summer fires.

The whitish flowers are tinged or streaked with pink or green. Most of these species are fragrant. They are pollinated by insects. Interspecific hybridization is very common. Flowers from the spike can characteristics of different species.

The sepals and petals are narrow and inconspicuous. This makes them not very popular amongst orchid hunters.

The lip on the upper side of the flower is broad and slightly waved at the edge, often bearing an inner plate. This lip can be rigid and sessile or on a short claw. Some species have secretory tissue associated with the base of the labellum. The column is very short.

Species

There are 110 currently accepted species as of May 2014.^[2]

The genus is divided in several sections: Bifida, Genoplesium, Integra, Podochilus, Prasophyllum.

Genoplesium and Prasophyllum belong to the same lineage in the cladistic tree. Genoplesium is cladistically close to Prasophyllum, which brings into doubt its status as a segregate genus

1. Prasophyllum affine Lindl. (1840)
2. Prasophyllum album R.S.Rogers, (1909)
3. Prasophyllum alpestre D.L.Jones, (1998)
4. Prasophyllum amoenum D.L.Jones (1998)
5. Prasophyllum antennatum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones (1989)
6. Prasophyllum apoxychilum D.L.Jones (1998)
7. Prasophyllum australe R.Br. (1810)  : Southern Leek Orchid, Austral Leek orchid
8. Prasophyllum bagoense D.L.Jones (2000)
9. Prasophyllum brevilabre (Lindl.) Hook.f. (1858)
10. Prasophyllum brownii Rchb.f. (1871)  : Christmas Leek Orchid
11. Prasophyllum buftonianum J.H.Willis (1953)
12. Prasophyllum calcicola R.J.Bates (1989)  : Limestone Leek Orchid
13. Prasophyllum campestre R.J.Bates & D.L.Jones (1991)
14. Prasophyllum canaliculatum D.L.Jones (1997)
15. Prasophyllum candidum R.J.Bates & D.L.Jones (1991)
16. Prasophyllum caricetum D.L.Jones (2000)
17. Prasophyllum castaneum D.L.Jones (1998)
18. Prasophyllum caudiculum D.L.Jones (2000)
19. Prasophyllum colensoi Hook.f. (1853)
20. Prasophyllum concinnum Nicholls (1948)  : Trim Leek Orchid
21. Prasophyllum constrictum R.S.Rogers (1909)
22. Prasophyllum correctum D.L.Jones, (1994)
23. Prasophyllum crebriflorum D.L.Jones (2003)
24. Prasophyllum cucullatum Rchb.f. (1871)  : Hooded Leek Orchid
25. Prasophyllum cyphochilum Benth. (1873)  : Pouched Leek Orchid
26. Prasophyllum diversiflorum Nicholls, (1942)  : Gorae Leek Orchid
27. Prasophyllum dossenum R.J.Bates & D.L.Jones, (1991)
28. Prasophyllum drummondii Rchb.f. (1871)  : Swamp Leek Orchid
29. Prasophyllum elatum R.Br.. Tall Leek Orchid, Piano Orchid
30. Prasophyllum exiguum Rupp (1948)
31. Prasophyllum exile D.L.Jones & R.J.Bates (1991)
32. Prasophyllum favonium D.L.Jones (1998)
33. Prasophyllum fecundum R.J.Bates (1989)
34. Prasophyllum fimbria Rchb.f. (1871)  : Fringed Leek Orchid
35. Prasophyllum fitzgeraldii R.S.Rogers & Maiden (1909)
36. Prasophyllum flavum R.Br. (1810)  : Yellow Leek Orchid
37. Prasophyllum fosteri D.L.Jones (2000)
38. Prasophyllum frenchii F.Muell. (1889)  : Maroon Leek Orchid
39. Prasophyllum fuscum R.Br. (1810)  : Tailed Leek Orchid
40. Prasophyllum gibbosum R.Br. (1810)  : Humped Leek Orchid
41. Prasophyllum giganteum Lindl. (1840)  : Bronze Leek Orchid
42. Prasophyllum goldsackii J.Z.Weber & R.J.Bates (1978)
43. Prasophyllum gracillimum Nicholls (1948)  : Slender Leek Orchid
44. Prasophyllum hectori (Buchanan) Molloy, D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem (2005)
45. Prasophyllum hians Rchb.f. (1871)  : Yawning Leek Orchid
46. Prasophyllum hygrophilum D.L.Jones & D.T.Rouse (2003)
47. Prasophyllum incompositum D.L.Jones (1991)
48. Prasophyllum incorrectum D.L.Jones (2003)
49. Prasophyllum incurvum D.L.Jones (1998)
50. Prasophyllum lanceolatum R.S.Rogers (1920)
51. Prasophyllum lindleyanum Rchb.f. (1871)  : Green Leek Orchid
52. Prasophyllum litorale R.J.Bates (1990)
53. Prasophyllum macrotys Lindl. (1840)  : Inland Leek Orchid
54. Prasophyllum milfordense D.L.Jones (1998)
55. Prasophyllum mimulum D.L.Jones (2004)
56. Prasophyllum mollissimum Rupp (1948)
57. Prasophyllum montanum R.J.Bates & D.L.Jones (1991)
58. Prasophyllum morganii Nicholls (1930)  : Cobungra Leek Orchid
59. Prasophyllum mucronatum Rupp (1948)
60. Prasophyllum murfetii D.L.Jones, (2000)
61. Prasophyllum nichollsianum Rupp (1942)
62. Prasophyllum niphopedium D.L.Jones (2000)
63. Prasophyllum nublingii R.S.Rogers (1927)
64. Prasophyllum obovatum Rupp (1948)
65. Prasophyllum occidentale R.S.Rogers (1908)
66. Prasophyllum occultans R.J.Bates (1989)
67. Prasophyllum odoratissimum D.L.Jones (1996)
68. Prasophyllum odoratum R.S.Rogers (1909)  : Scented Leek Orchid
69. Prasophyllum olidum D.L.Jones (1998)
70. Prasophyllum ovale Lindl. (1840)  : Little Leek Orchid
71. Prasophyllum pallens D.L.Jones (2000)
72. Prasophyllum pallidum Nicholls (1933)  : Pale Leek Orchid
73. Prasophyllum parviflorum (R.S.Rogers) Nicholls (1941)
74. Prasophyllum parvifolium Lindl. (1840)  : Autumn Leek Orchid
75. Prasophyllum patens R.Br. (1810)  : Broad-lip Leek Orchid
76. Prasophyllum paulinae D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. (1996)
77. Prasophyllum perangustum D.L.Jones (1998)
78. Prasophyllum petilum D.L.Jones & R.J.Bates (1991)
79. Prasophyllum plumiforme Fitzg. (1882)
80. Prasophyllum pruinosum R.S.Rogers (1909)
81. Prasophyllum pulchellum D.L.Jones (1998)
82. Prasophyllum pyriforme E.Coleman (1932)
83. Prasophyllum reflexum Fitzg. (1885)
84. Prasophyllum regium R.S.Rogers (1918)  : King Leek Orchid
85. Prasophyllum retroflexum D.L.Jones (2000)
86. Prasophyllum robustum (Nicholls) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones (1989)
87. Prasophyllum rogersii Rupp (1928)  : Marsh Leek Orchid
88. Prasophyllum rostratum Lindl. (1840)  : Slaty Leek Orchid
89. Prasophyllum sargentii (Nicholls) A.S.George (1971)  : Frilled Leek Orchid
90. Prasophyllum secutum D.L.Jones (1998)
91. Prasophyllum solstitium D.L.Jones (2000)
92. Prasophyllum sphacelatum D.L.Jones (1996)
93. Prasophyllum spicatum R.J.Bates & D.L.Jones (1991)
94. Prasophyllum stellatum D.L.Jones (1998)
95. Prasophyllum striatum R.Br. (1810)  : Streaked Leek Orchid
96. Prasophyllum suaveolens D.L.Jones & R.J.Bates (1994)
97. Prasophyllum subbisectum Nicholls (1936)
98. Prasophyllum suttonii Ewart & B.Rees (1912)  : Mauve Leek orchid
99. Prasophyllum sylvestre R.J.Bates & D.L.Jones (1991)
100. Prasophyllum tadgellianum (R.S.Rogers) R.S.Rogers  : Alpine Leek Orchid
101. Prasophyllum taphanyx D.L.Jones (2004)
102. Prasophyllum transversum Fitzg. (1891)
103. Prasophyllum triangulare Fitzg. (1882)  : Dark Leek Orchid
104. Prasophyllum trifidum Rupp (1941)
105. Prasophyllum truncatum Lindl. (1840)
106. Prasophyllum tunbridgense D.L.Jones (1998)
107. Prasophyllum unicum Rupp (1942)
108. Prasophyllum validum R.S.Rogers (1927)  : Green Leek Orchid
109. Prasophyllum wallum R.J.Bates & D.L.Jones, (1991)
110. Prasophyllum wilkinsoniorum D.L.Jones, (2000)

References

1. lectotype (Clements, M.A. (1989). "Catalogue of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research 1 (109).)
2. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families

• Jones, D.L. (1998). "A taxonomic review of Prasophyllum in Tasmania". Australian Orchid Research 3 (95).
• 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

• West Australian orchids
• "Prasophyllum R.Br.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.