Scientific Name: Paraprasophyllum alpinum Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region

Common Name: alpine leek-orchid

Family Classification (Clade): Monocots

Family: Orchidaceae

Form Description: A small leek orchid, a single tubular leaf, 80-200 mm with a whitish base.

Height (m): 0.1 – 0.3

Flowers: 3-14 shiny greenish-brown flowers, labellum shiny whitish-green, sharply recurved at the apex with a shiny, thick, greenish callus extending almost to the labellum apex.

Municipality
Central HighlandsDerwent ValleyGlenorchyHobartHuon ValleyKingborough
Plant Communities
Alpine and Sub-alpine VegetationSedgeland and Wetland
Habitat Notes

Locally common in alpine and sub-alpine sedgelands, moorlands and buttongrass, often growing in association with Tasmanian cushion plant, Abrotanella forsteroides, in damp soils.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Specialist Method

Seed Information

Seed Treatment Notes

Orchid seeds are very minute yellow, brown or blackish dust-like particles. Orchid seeds are produced within a capsule that splits at maturity and releases thousands to millions of seeds. Dispersed by wind and water and only germinate following infection of the embryo by a suitable mycorrhizal fungus. Very few seeds become mature plants. For more information see Jones, Wapstra, Tonelli, Harris (1999): The Orchids of Tasmania.