Prasophyllum niphopedium

D.L.Jones
Orchadian 13: 161 (2000)
Taxonomic status Accepted
Occurrence status Present endemic
Origin Native
Degree of establishment Native
Threat status
FFG: Endangered (EN)

Flowering stem slender, 20–35 cm tall. Leaf-blade to 30 cm long and 5 mm diam. at base, apex lax. Flowers 10–20, greenish with pink to reddish markings, lightly fragrant, in a loose spike 7–12 cm long; ovary obovoid, to 4 mm long; sepals 6–8 mm long, dorsal sepal ovate, acute, lateral sepals free or shortly united at base, linear-lanceolate, acute, almost parallel; petals linear-lanceolate, 5–7 mm long, projecting forward, apex obtuse. Labellum on a short claw, trullate, 5–6 mm long, pinkish, recurved at right angle near middle, the lower margins incurved and smooth, upper margins crenulate; callus plate brown or green, much raised at the bend, channelled below, apex blunt and short, often wrinkled. Column appendages oblong, blunt, c. 2 mm long, pale green. Flowers Dec.–Feb.

MonT, VAlp. Apparently confined to sub-alpine meadows and fertile montane woodland in the Mt Cobberas region of eastern Victoria.

Very similar to Prasophyllum frenchii, but differs in its later flowering, sub-alpine habitat, fewer and sparser flowers, the crenulate labellum and the less wrinkled callus.

The name P. rogersii has been misapplied to P. niphopedium and P. litorale in Victoria.

Source:

Bates, R.J. (1994). Prasophyllum. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., ‍Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons‍, pp. 869–886. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Updated by: Val Stajsic, 16 Mar. 2018
Prasophyllum niphopedium (hero image) Spinning
Prasophyllum niphopedium (distribution map) Spinning