Common name: Painted Leek Orchid
Prasophyllum pictum D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel. APNI* Description: Terrestrial herb, to 35 cm high, growing singly.
Leaf 20–30 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, dark green, shiny.
Inflorescence a spike 8–12 cm long, 9–22-flowered, moderately dense. Flowers with brown, pink, or purple tones and white or pale pink, thin-textured, sweetly-scented. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate-lanceolate, 8–10 mm long. Lateral sepals 8.5–11 mm long, divergent. Lateral petals linear, 8.5–11 mm long, apex acute. Labellum 10–12 mm long and 3.5–4.0 mm wide, oblong-lanceolate when flattened, lamina strongly recurved, margins folded and crenulate. Callus plate yellowish green, green at the base, ending well below the bend in the lamina. Column with wings oblong; rostellum slightly higher than column wings.
Capsules not seen.
Flowering: November–December
Distribution and occurrence: Only known from the vicinity of Ebor, on the Northern Tablelands. In grassy woodlands dominated by snow gum and black sallyon clay loams derived from basalt at c. 1300 m, pften occuring in highly disturbed areas.
NSW subdivisions: NT
Prasophyllum pictum is a member of the P. patens-P. odoratum species flock, and critical comparison with other members of this flock, including P. candidum, P. caricetum and P. sandrae by population genetic data is required. Described as allied to P. dossenum, but differing by its taller stature, more colourful flowers (with brown, pink or purple tones) and narrower oblong-lanceolate (vs ovate to ovate-oblong) labellum (3.5-4 vs 5-6 mm wide).
Text by R.L.Barrett & M.A.M.Renner, June 2025 Taxon concept: D.L.Jones & L.M.Copeland, The Australian Orchid Review, Feb.-Mar. 2018: 39-51 (2018)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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