Scientific Name: Prasophyllum elatum

Common Name: tall leek-orchid

Family Classification (Clade): Monocots

Family: Orchidaceae

Form Description: A robust species with a smooth tubular leaf 200–1000mm long.

Height (m): 0.3 – 1.2

Flowers: Up to 100 greenish-yellow to purplish-black flowers 10–15 mm across. The pinkish-white, crisped labellum has a prominent green callus plate with raised edges.

Municipality
Break O’DayBurnieDorsetFlindersGeorge TownGlamorgan-Spring BayHuon ValleyKingboroughSorellSouthern MidlandsTasmanWaratah-WynyardWest Coast
Plant Communities
Coastal VegetationDry Eucalypt ForestHeath
Habitat Notes

Locally common, growing in coastal sandy, sandy-clay and lateritic soils in heathlands, woodlands and shrublands.

General Notes

Flowers best in the season following summer fire.

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.