Pterostylis perculta
| Ruddy hood | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Cranichideae |
| Genus: | Pterostylis |
| Species: | P. perculta
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pterostylis perculta | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Oligochaetochilus percultus M.A.Clem. & C.J.French | |
Pterostylis perculta, commonly known as the ruddy hood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Both flowering and non-flowering plants have a relatively large rosette of leaves and flowering plants have up to five reddish-brown and white flowers with relatively short tips on the sepals.
Description[edit]
Pterostylis perculta is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a rosette of leaves, the rosette up to 30 mm (1 in) in diameter. Flowering plants have a rosette at the base of the flowering stem but the leaves are usually withered by flowering time. Up to five reddish-brown and white flowers 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 70–150 mm (3–6 in) tall. The dorsal sepal and petals form a hood or "galea" over the column with the dorsal sepal having a short point on its end. The lateral sepals turn downward with short tips curving forwards. The labellum is small, almost glabrous, dark brown and insect-like. Flowering occurs from September to November.[3]
Taxonomy and naming[edit]
This orchid was first formally described in 2014 by Mark Clements and Christopher French and given the name Oligochaetochilus percultus from a specimen collected near Cascade and the description was published in Australian Orchid Review.[4] In 2015 David Jones changed the name to Pterostylis perculta "to allow for the different taxonomic views".[1] It has previously been known as Pterostylis sp. 'Ongerup'. The specific epithet (perculta) a Latin word meaning "highly adorned".[5]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
The ruddy hood grows in rocky soil in shrubland and mallee woodland between the Stirling Range and the Thomas River.[3][6]
Conservation[edit]
Pterostylis perculta is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Pterostylis perculta". APNI. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ "Pterostylis perculta". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ a b Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 381. ISBN 9780980296457.
- ^ "Oligochaetochilus percultus". APNI. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 578.
- ^ a b "Pterostylis perculta". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.