Curled-tongue shell orchid (Pterostylis rogersii)
Description
Pterostylis rogersii is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and when not flowering, a rosette of flat, bluish-green leaves, each leaf 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and 4–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide. Flowering plants usually have a single flower 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long and 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide borne on a flowering stem 70–200 mm (3–8 in) high. There are also three to five stem leaves 20–70 mm (0.8–3 in) long and 2–8 mm (0.08–0.3 in) wide. The flowers are white with reddish-brown or less commonly green stripes. The dorsal sepal and petals are fused, forming a hood or "galea" over the column, the dorsal sepal curving forward with a sharp pointed tip. The lateral sepals are erect with a small gap between them and the galea and thread-like ends 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long. Between their bases there is a deep, V-shaped sinus. The labellum is 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, reddish-brown and curved or curled and protrudes above the sinus. Flowering occurs from June 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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