Robust snail orchid (Pterostylis dilatata)
Description
Pterostylis dilatata is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and when not flowering, a rosette lying flat on the ground. Flowering plants lack a rosette but have a single green and white flower on a flowering stem 50–150 mm (2–6 in) tall with three to five stem leaves. The stem leaves are 4–20 mm (0.2–0.8 in) long and 1–4 mm (0.04–0.2 in) wide. The flower is green and white, 18–24 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. The dorsal sepal and petals form a hood over the column with the petals flared and the dorsal sepal having a short point. The lateral sepals are erect, fused for most of their length except for their thread-like tips which are 11–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long. The lateral sepals are in close contact with the gales and have a bulging sinus between them. The labellum is about 6 mm (0.2 in) long, 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and not visible outside the intact flower. Flowering occurs from May to August.
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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