Pterostylis timothyi
| Brittle snail orchid | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Cranichideae |
| Genus: | Pterostylis |
| Species: | P. timothyi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pterostylis timothyi | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Pterostylis timothyi, commonly known as the brittle snail orchid[3] or fawn snail orchid[4] is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a rosette of leaves at its base, and when flowering, a single green, fawn and white with erect lateral sepals.
Description
[edit]Pterostylis timothyi is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a rosette of bright green, pointed leaves 5–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide with prominent veins. A single bright green, fawn and white flower, 11–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide is borne on a stalk 60–130 mm (2–5 in) high. The dorsal sepal and petals are fused, forming a hood or "galea" over the column, the sepal and petals with a sharp point on the end. The lateral sepals are erect, in close contact with the galea and have thread-like tips 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long. The sinus between the lateral sepals has a small notch in the centre a brownish central area. The labellum is 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and hidden inside the flower. Flowering occurs in July and August.[5][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
[edit]The brittle snail orchid was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones who gave it the name Linguella timothyi. The description was published in Australian Orchid Research from a specimen collected near Jerramungup.[6] In 2010 Jasmine Janes and Marco Duretto changed the name to Pterostylis timothyi.[1] The specific epithet (timothyi) honours Timothy Jones, the son of the author of this species.[3]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The brittle snail orchid grows in woodland and heath between Hyden and Israelite Bay in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee biogeographic regions.[4][7]
Conservation status
[edit]This species is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Pterostylis russellii". APNI. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "Pterostylis timothyi". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ a b c Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 353. ISBN 9780980296457.
- ^ a b c Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 413. ISBN 9780646562322.
- ^ Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 299. ISBN 978-1877069123.
- ^ "Linguella timothyi". APNI. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Pterostylis timothyi". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.