Pterostylis baptistii Fitzg.

King greenhood (en)

Species

Angiosperms > Asparagales > Orchidaceae > Pterostylis

Characteristics

Rosette leaves 4–8, ovate to oblong, 30–80 x 20–25mm, dark green, margins wavy or crinkled. Flower stem 200–40  tall, smooth. Flower erect, 40–60 x 20–30mm, translucent white with green lines and suffusions, apex tan to brown markings. Dorsal sepal of similar length to petals, sharply pointed. Lateral sepals loosely embracing galea and separated from petals by wide side gap. Sinus bulging prominently in side view, flat and shallowly notched in front view. Free points tapered, 25–3  long, swept back. Petals very broad, often with crinkled margins. Labellum curved at apex, protruding prominently from sinus when set, 18–22 x 5–6mm, reddish-brown, suddenly narrowed near tip.
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A slender ground orchid. In flowers it grows 40 cm tall. There is a ring of flat leaves near the base. There are small tubers. It grows in colonies. There are a ring of about 8 leaves around the flower stalk. They are oval and 3-6 cm long by about 2 cm wide. The flower occurs singly and has a hood like structure. It is green and white with reddish-brown streaks. The fruit are capsules.
Life form perennial
Growth form herb
Growth support free-standing
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Sexuality hermaphrodite
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Mature width (meter) -
Mature height (meter) 0.4
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Nitrogen fixer -
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Environment

Widespread but generally scattered and uncommon to rare in S. In Qld and far N NSW extends from coast, growing in coastal scrub, shrubby forests and littoral rainforest in freely draining sands, to ranges where it grows in high rainfall forests often close to streams and thickets adjacent to swamps (sometimes almost growing in water) in heavy soils. In other parts of N NSW it is mainly found in coastal forests in sands and sandy loam. In S parts of NSW and E Vic it grows among shrubs, sedges and tussocks on coastal and near-coastal swampy flats and low-lying sites near streams in heathy forest in moisture-retentive peaty loams and clay loams.
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It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in sheltered moist sites in rainforest. It is in well-drained sites with good humus.
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Hardiness (USDA) 8-12

Usage

The tubers are edible but this would kill the orchid.
Uses -
Edible roots tubers
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Mode -
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Images

Pterostylis baptistii unspecified picture

Distribution

Pterostylis baptistii world distribution map, present in Australia

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:655284-1
WFO ID wfo-0000288434
COL ID 6WLZK
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Pterostylis baptistii