Prasophyllum

(pronounced: pray-soh-FILL-um)

Classification

Diurideae subtribe Prasophyllinae

Overview

Terrestrials arising from basal subterranean tubers. Stems erect. Leaves solitary, hollow. Inflorescences erect, scapose, densely-flowered spicate racemes, the floral bracts inconspicuous. Flowers not resupinate, cupped. Sepals and petals free, spreading. Lip unlobed, with a basal callus. Column stout, with lateral wings; pollinia 2, sectile, on a common hamulus (stipe) and viscidium.

Distribution

A genus of 65 species endemic to Australia.

Care and Culture Card

See basic growing conditions and care information below.


Literature

Bates, R. 1984. Pollination of Prasophyllum elatum R. Br. (with notes on associated biology). Orchadian 8(1):14-17.

Bates, R. 1989. Prasophyllum calcicola, P. macrostachyum and P. ringens (Orchidaceae): three similar species from western and southern Australia. J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 11:179-187.

Bates, R. 1989. Prasophyllum fecundum and P. occultans (Orchidaceae): two new species endemic to South Australia. J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 11:189-194.

Bates, R. 1990. Prasophyllum litorale, a new species of orchidaceae from southwestern Victoria and adjacent South Australia. J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 13(1):59-62.

Bates, R. and J. Z. Weber 1979. Putative hybrid between Prasophyllum archeri and P. despectans. J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 1(6):357-360.

Bates, R. and J. Z. Weber 1980. A putative natural hybrid between Prasophyllum archeri and P. despectans. Orchadian 6(8):188-189.

Bernhardt, P. and P. Burns-Balogh 1986. Observations of the floral biology of Prasophyllum odoratum (Orchidaceae, Spiranthoideae). Pl. Syst. Evol. 153:65-76.

Clements, M. A. 1983. Notes on the content of John Lindley’s orchid herbarium 2: Prasophyllum. Orchadian 7(10):242-245.

Coleman, E. 1933. Pollination of orchids: genus Prasophyllum. Victorian Nat. 49:214-221.

Coleman, E. 1934. Pollination of Prasophyllum parviflorum Lindl., The function of the caudicle. Victorian Nat. 51:101-107.

Jones, D. L. 1972. The pollination of Prasophyllum alpinum. Victorian Nat. 89:260-263.

Jones, D. L. 1972. The self-pollination of Prasophyllum beaugleholei W. H. Nichols. Victorian Nat. 89:144-146.

Jones, D. L. 1996. Resolution of the Prasophyllum alpinum R. Br. (Orchidaceae) complex in mainland south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. Muelleria 9:51-62.

Jones, D. L. 1996. Prasophyllum odoratissimum, a new species of Orchidaceae from Australia. Orchadian 12(2):52-55.

Jones, D. L. 1996. A new name for the Australian orchid Prasophyllum chasmogamum R. Bates & D. L. Jones. Orchadian 12(2):86-87.

Jones, D. L. 1997. Prasophyllum canaliculatum, an endangered new species of Orchidaceae from southern New South Wales. Orchadian 12(3):125-127.

Jones, D. L. 2000. Ten new species of Prasophyllum R. Br. (Orchidaceae) from South-eastern Australia. Orchadian 13(4):148-173.

Jones, D. L. and M. A. Clements 1996. A reassessment of Prasophyllum gracile and P. macrostachyum (Orchidaceae), with the description of P. paulinae, a new species from south-west Western Australia. Nuytsia 10(3):409-418.

Rogers, R. S. 1909. A critical review of some south Australian Prasophylla. Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Austral. 33:197-222.
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