Prasophyllum barnettii

Prasophyllum barnettii, commonly known as the Anglesea leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Victoria. It has a single tubular leaf and between twelve and thirty scented yellowish, reddish or brownish flowers and is only known from a small area in the south of the state.

Description
Prasophyllum barnettii is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped leaf up to 120 mm long and 2-3 mm wide at the base. Between twelve and thirty scented yellowish, reddish or brownish flowers are arranged along a thin flowering spike 70-120 mm long reaching to a height of 200-350 mm. As with others in the genus, the flowers are inverted so that the labellum is above the column rather than below it. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped to lance-shaped, 7-10 mm long. The lateral sepals are a similar size and shape to the dorsal sepal and are sometimes joined to each other near their bases. The petals are linear in shape and about 6-8 mm long. The labellum is reddish or white, 6-8 mm long, turns upwards at about 90° and has slightly wavy edges. Flowering occurs from October to December.

Taxonomy and naming
Prasophyllum barnettii was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones and Dean Rouse from a specimen collected near Anglesea and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research. The specific epithet (barnettii) honours the Australian naturalist Paul Barnett (1927-1996).

Distribution and habitat
This leek orchid grows with grasses or shrubs in forest in the Otway Ranges and coastal areas between Anglesea and Princetown.