Rosette leaves dark green, 10–25 x 5–15mm, margins flat or crinkled. Flower stem 100–20 tall. Flower erect, 12–15 x 7–10mm, bright green and white, shiny, hood shortly curved. Dorsal sepal shortly pointed. Sinus protruding like short platform in side view, with thick inrolled margins. Free points filiform, 12–1 long. Labellum tip just protruding above sinus when set, 8–9.5 x 3mm, dark brown, slightly constricted near apex.
Widespread and locally common, mainly in sheltered sites on coast and sometimes in positions exposed to sea winds, but also extending to some adjacent hinterland ranges; commonly grows in coastal scrub and heathy forest in freely draining sands or peaty sand; less commonly in shrubby forest in heavier soils. Var.: A freak variant of this species with a petaloid, functionless labellum was described as Pterostylis crypta by W.H.Nicholls in 1945 based on three specimens collected from Hoddle Ra. near Toora in S Gippsland, Vic. This freak variant, which may be self-pollinating, apparently occurs at two sites in Vic. An undescribed species related to D. alveatum but with a less-protruding notched sinus and labellum which tapers to apex occurs in hilly and mountainous areas of E Gippsland. It also has a freak petaloid self-pollinating variant with deeply notched sinus and enlarged strongly tapered labellum which contacts inside of hood. Plants from the S. Tlnds of NSW require further study to determine their status.
Home