Prasophyllum frenchii
F.Muell Swamp Leek-orchidFlowering stem usually robust, 15–60(–100) cm tall. Leaf-blade to 20 cm long, 5–10 mm diam. at base, green, apex lax, often withered at flowering. Flowers 20–65, fragrant, green to reddish brown or red, subsessile in a loose to quite dense spike which is well exserted from the leaf; ovary ovoid, 3–5 mm long, green, standing out from the rachis; sepals 5–8 mm long, dorsal sepal ovate, lateral sepals free, lanceolate, nearly parallel, erect to recurved; petals 6–7 mm long, oblong-elliptic, blunt. Labellum trullate, 5–6 mm long, green or red-tinted, recurved at right angles past the middle; base pouched, swollen, thick-textured with incurved margins, margins slightly crinkled; apex triangular, subacute, entire; callus plate much-raised, horseshoe-shaped just beyond bend, verrucose. Column appendages oblong, to 2.2 mm long, obtuse. Flowers Oct.–Nov.
Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, MonT, VAlp. Also SA, NSW. Widespread across southern Victoria, but rare. Occurs in grassland, heathland and open forest on well-drained or water-retentive sand or clay loams.
A very variable species, closely related to Prasophyllum diversiflorum, which has narrower flowers with a laterally compressed labellum, a larger callus plate and hatchet-shaped column appendages and to P. litorale, which has short, dense flowering spikes (hardly exserted from the leaf) and a more crenate labellum margin.
Prasophyllum frenchii has become endangered due to substantial loss of habitat.
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.
Spinning
