New Zealand Native Orchids

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Pterostylis australis

Greenhood

Near St. Arnaud 25 November 2022. Photo: Bill Campbell
Photo: Bill Campbell
Recorded distribution
Recorded distribution

Plant

10-25 cm tall. Leaves quite broad, rather flat, 4-25 cm x 10-15 mm and often undulate.

Flowers

Large 25-50 mm tall. Dorsal sepal and lateral petals very shortly pointed. Lateral sepals long and spreading. Labellum tip arched, stigma long and oval.

Flowering

November - December.

Habitat

Mature lowland to montane moist scrub and open forest.

Conservation

Forms large swathes, common.

Notes

Sometimes grows with P. banksii which is very similar, but distinguished by the very broad leaves, very flat top to the column wings and much shorter dorsal sepal tip than P. banksii. Some forms have strongly undulate leaves and very short dorsal sepal.

Key features

Very large flower, short tips to the tepals, rather broad, rounded leaves.

Photos

Near St. Arnaud 25 November 2022. Photo: Bill Campbell
Near Punakaikai 26 November 2022. Photo: Bill Campbell
Near Punakaikai 26 November 2022. Photo: Bill Campbell
Near St. Arnaud 25 November 2022. Photo: Bill Campbell
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Greenhood orchids (Pterostylis)
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