Pterostylis cernua
Greenhood

PLANT: Terrestrial tuberous herb.
Non-flowering plants to 6cm high. Flowering plants to approx 12cm.

LEAVES: FLOWERING PLANTS:
4 to 5 sheathing, grass-like leaves.
NON FLOWERING PLANTS: 3 to 5 lance-shaped leaves.

FLOWER: Single. 2 cm high. Green with translucent white stripes. Often semi-nodding. Dorsal sepal tip short, only slightly longer than the petals. Lateral sepals short, barely overtopping the galea. Labellum dark green with a central blackish-green callus. Ovary ribs coloured orange.

FLOWERING TIME: November to January.

HABITAT: Grass and sphagnum moss, montane roadside.

CONSERVATION STATUS: At Risk - Naturally Uncommon.

NOTES: Originally recorded from only a few sites near Arthur's Pass, but now known from over 20 other sites on the South Island's West Coast.