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Two bristle greenhood (Pterostylis biseta)

Description

Pterostylis biseta, is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. It has a rosette of between six and fourteen leaves at the base of the flowering spike, each leaf 15–40 mm (0.6–2 in) long and 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide. The leaves are often withered by the time of flowering. Up to seven translucent green and brown flowers 50–58 mm (2.0–2.3 in) long and 12–14 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide are borne on a flowering spike 100–350 mm (4–10 in) tall. Two to six papery bracts are wrapped around the flowering spike. The dorsal sepal and petals are joined to form a hood called the "galea" over the column with the dorsal sepal having a thread-like tip 11–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long. The lateral sepals are wider than the galea, dished, densely hairy on their outer edges and suddenly taper to a thread-like tip. The lateral sepals are more or less parallel to each other and the tips are 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long. The labellum is brown to green, thin and insect-like, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide. The "head" end is swollen with two long bristles and there are up to 34 shorter bristles on the side. Flowering occurs from September to November.

Taxonomic tree

  • Domain: Eukarya

    • Kingdom: Plantae

      • Phylum:

        • Class: Liliopsida

          • Order: Asparagales

            • Family: Orchidaceae

              • Genus: Pterostylis