New Zealand Native Orchids

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Pterostylis tanypoda

Swan Greenhood

Porters Pass, Canterbury 30 November 2022. Photo: Bill Campbell
Photo: Bill Campbell
Recorded distribution
Recorded distribution

Plant

5-10cm tall, robust, with a basal rosette of oval blue green leaves.

Flowers

Up to 7 small green striped. Tepals broadly oval, lateral sepals pointed, fused below the labellum Labellum broad, oval with a forward pointing callus at the base.

Flowering

December - January.

Habitat

Montane grassland in short turf, often with Hieracium. Nelson southwards.

Conservation

Widespread, sometimes locally common, more often in scattered small groups; at risk.

Notes

Very similar to P. tristis but distinguished from it by the forward projecting callus at base of labellum.

Key features

Plant with a basal rosette, presence of several small greenish flowers, very stout tepals, labellum callus points forward.

Photos

Porters Pass, Canterbury 30 November 2022. Photo: Bill Campbell
Porters Pass, Canterbury 30 November 2022. Photo: Bill Campbell
Mt Bell, North West Nelson. Photo: Mark Graesser
McCrae’s Flat. Photo: Eric Scanlen
Photo: Ian St George
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Greenhood orchids (Pterostylis)
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