Prasophyllum caudiculum

Prasophyllum caudiculum, commonly known as the Guyra leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area of northern New South Wales. It has a single tubular, bright green leaf and up to thirty five greenish to reddish-brown flowers crowded along an erect flowering stem. It grows in grassy places near Guyra.

Description
Prasophyllum caudiculum is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single tube-shaped, bright green leaf, 300-450 mm long with a reddish-purple base. Between ten and thirty five flowers are crowded along the flowering spike. The flowers are greenish-brown to reddish-brown. 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 narrow egg-shaped to lance-shaped, 6-7 mm long, about 3 mm wide and curves downwards. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 8-9 mm long, about 2 mm wide and separated from each other. The petals are linear in shape, about 6 mm long and 1 mm wide. The labellum is broadly oblong to elliptic, 5-6 mm long, about 5 mm wide and turns upwards at about 90° near its middle, often extending between the lateral sepals. The edge of the labellum flares widely and is wavy near its tip. There is a broad, green, fleshy, channelled callus in the centre of the labellum. Flowering occurs from October to December.

Taxonomy and naming
Prasophyllum caudiculum was first formally described in 2000 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Guyra and the description was published in The Orchadian. The specific epithet (caudiculum) is derived from Latin meaning "a little tail", referring to the narrow labellum mid-lobe.

Distribution and habitat
This leek orchid grows with grasses and herbs on the New England Tableland.