Leafy greenhoods (Pterostylis cucullata)
Description
Pterostylis cucullata, is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. It has between four and seven egg-shaped to oblong leaves, some of which form a rosette at the base and some partly wrap around the flowering stem. The leaves are 40–100 mm (2–4 in) long and 15–30 mm (0.6–1 in) wide, dark green, fleshy and flat. A single white, green and reddish-brown flower is borne on a flowering stem 50–250 mm (2–10 in) high. The flowers are 35–40 mm (1–2 in) long, 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide. The dorsal sepal and petals are joined and curve forward in a semi-circle, forming a hood called the "galea" over the column. There is a wide gap at each side of the flower between the petals and the lateral sepals. The lateral sepals have a tapering tip, 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long, only slightly longer than the galea and there is a narrow but deep notch in the sinus between them. The labellum is 14–17 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long, about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide, slightly curved, dark brown and blunt and only protrudes slightly above the sinus. Flowering occurs from August to October.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Asparagales
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Family: Orchidaceae
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Genus: Pterostylis
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