About Prasophyllum odoratum R.S.Rogers
Prasophyllum odoratum, commonly known as the fragrant leek orchid, is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb. It grows from an underground tuber and produces a single tube-shaped leaf, up to 700 mm (30 in) long and 2–8 mm (0.08–0.3 in) wide, with a purplish base. Between ten and fifty flowers are arranged along a 60–200 mm (2–8 in) long flowering spike. The blooms are green and white with reddish markings, and they are scented. Like other species in the Prasophyllum genus, the flowers of this species are inverted, so the labellum sits above the column instead of below it. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped to lance-shaped, 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, and curved downwards. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, and are not fused to each other. The petals are linear to lance-shaped, 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long, and are either white or marked with a reddish stripe, with wavy margins. The labellum is white and egg-shaped, 6–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide, turns sharply upwards, and has very wavy or ruffled edges. Flowering takes place from October to January. The fragrant leek orchid grows in a wide variety of habitats across New South Wales, ranging inland as far as Griffith, and is widespread across Victoria.
