Pterostylis crassa

Coarse leafy greenhood
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Genus: Pterostylis
Species: P. crassa
Binomial name
Pterostylis crassa
(D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh.[1]
Synonyms[1]

Pterostylis crassa, commonly known as the coarse leafy greenhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria. As with similar greenhoods, the flowering plants differ from those which are not flowering. The non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves on a short stalk but the flowering plants have up to four relatively large, shiny dark green translucent flowers on a flowering stem with stem leaves.

Description

Pterostylis crassa, is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. Non-flowering plants have a rosette of between three and six leaves, each leaf 10–30 mm (0.4–1 in) long and 4–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide on a stalk 35–55 mm (1–2 in) high. Flowering plants lack a rosette but have up to four flowers on a flowering spike 150–400 mm (6–20 in) high with between three and six linear to lance-shaped stem leaves which are 20–70 mm (0.8–3 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The flowers are 15–19 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long, 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide. The dorsal sepal and petals are joined to form a hood called the "galea" over the column. The galea is transparent green with darker green lines and a brown or green, tapered tip. The lateral sepals turn downwards and are 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long, 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide and joined for about half their length. The labellum is 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long, about 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and light brown with a dark stripe along its mid-line. Flowering occurs from September to October.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

The coarse leafy greenhood was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones and given the name Bunochilus crassus. The description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[4] In 2007, Gary Backhouse changed the name to Pterostylis crassa.[1] The specific epithet (crassa) is a Latin word meaning "thick", "fat" or "stout".[5]

Distribution and habitat

Pterostylis crassa occurs in dry woodland and forest in the far north-east corner of Victoria.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pterostylis crassa". APNI. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  2. 1 2 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 315. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. 1 2 Jeanes, Jeff. "Pterostylis crassa". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: vicflora. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "Bunochilus crassus". APNI. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  5. ↑ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 237.
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