Pterostylis humilis
Greenhood

PLANT: Terrestrial tuberous herb.
3 - 15cm tall. Flower stem short, erect, often hidden by the leaves.

LEAVES: Usually 3 - 4. Up to 9cm in length. Green to silvery-green, broadly oblong in shape. Leaves have parallel ribbing similar to Simpliglottis cornuta.

FLOWER: Single. 1.5 - 2cm high. Reddish-green, with translucent white stripes. Dorsal sepal tip very short. Petals only slightly shorter than the dorsal sepal. Lateral sepals diverge at a narrow angle, tips usually erect. Labellum dark reddish-brown, recurved at the tip. Stigma wide and heart-shaped.

FLOWERING TIME: November - January.

HABITAT: Predominantly beneath open sub-alpine scrub.
Also recorded from high montane tracksides.

CONSERVATION STATUS: At Risk - Naturally Uncommon.

NOTES: Similar to Pterostylis venosa but distinguished by the prominent heart-shaped stigma.