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

Common Name: highland leek-orchid

Family Classification (Clade): Monocots

Family: Orchidaceae

Form Description: A small to medium white-lipped leek orchid with a single tubular, green leaf with a purplish base.

Height (m): 0.2 – 0.45

Flowers: 5-20 on a short, crowded spike, white petals with mauve suffusions that widen towards the apex, lateral sepals fused or partly fused. A bright-white labellum, crisped at the margins, strongly recurved in the middle with a short, greenish, fleshy callus.

Municipality
Central HighlandsKentishMeander ValleyNorthern MidlandsWaratah-Wynyard
Plant Communities
Alpine and Sub-alpine VegetationHeathSedgeland and Wetland
Habitat Notes

Relatively common in sub-alpine heathland and sedgeland in northern Tasmania.

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.