Pterostylis robusta
| Sharp-leaf greenhood | |
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| Pterostylis robusta growing near Charlton | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Cranichideae |
| Genus: | Pterostylis |
| Species: | P. robusta
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| Binomial name | |
| Pterostylis robusta | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Pterostylis robusta, commonly known as the sharp-leaf greenhood, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. As with similar orchids, the flowering plants differ from those which are not flowering. The non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves but the flowering plants have a single flower with leaves on the flowering spike. This greenhood has a relatively large green, white and reddish-brown flower with reddish-brown stripes with the labellum just visible inside the flower.
Description[edit]
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.[3][4][5][6]
Taxonomy and naming[edit]
Pterostylis robusta was first formally described in 1927 by Richard Sanders Rogers and the description was published Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia.[1][7] The specific epithet (robusta) is a Latin word meaning "strong like oak" or "robust".[8]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
The sharp-leaf greenhood is most common in the higher rainfall areas of South Australia where it sometimes forms extensive colonies. In Victoria it grows in open forest in the north-west of the state but it is rare in New South Wales where it grows on sheltered ridges south from Wagga Wagga.[3][4][5][6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Pterostylis robusta". APNI. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ "Pterostylis robusta". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ a b Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 292–293. ISBN 978-1877069123.
- ^ a b Jeanes, Jeff. "Pterostylis robusta". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: vicflora. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ a b Jones, David L. "Pterostylis robusta". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Pterostylis robusta". State Herbarium of South Australia: eflora SA. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ Rogers, Richard Sanders (1927). "Contribution to the Orchidology of Australia". Transactions and Proceedings of the Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia. 51: 296–297. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 556.