Sharp-leaf greenhood

(Pterostylis robusta)

galery

Description

Pterostylis robusta is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and when not flowering, a rosette of four to ten, dark green, egg-shaped leaves. Each leaf is 10–25 mm long and 10–16 mm wide. Flowering plants have a single flower 27–35 mm long and 10–12 mm wide borne on a spike 50–200 mm high with three to seven spreading stem leaves. The flowers are green, white and brownish with a reddish-brown tinge or stripes. The dorsal sepal and petals are fused, forming a hood or "galea" over the column. The dorsal sepal curves forward with a sharp point 2–4 mm long. The lateral sepals are erect, held closely against the galea, have an erect, thread-like tip 20–30 mm long and a flat sinus with a small notch between their bases. The labellum is 12–15 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, dark brown or green and just visible inside the flower. Flowering occurs from April to August.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum:
Class: Liliopsida
Order:Asparagales
Family:Orchidaceae
Genus:Pterostylis
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