Pterostylis excelsa

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Tall rustyhood
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Cranichideae
Genus: Pterostylis
Species:
P. excelsa
Binomial name
Pterostylis excelsa
Synonyms [2]
  • Oligochaetochilus excelsus(M.A.Clem.) Szlach.
  • Pterostylis squamata var. valida Nicholls
  • Pterostylis valida(Nicholls) D.L.Jones
  • Oligochaetochilus validus(Nicholls) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Pterostylis excelsa, commonly known as the tall rustyhood, [3] or dry land green-hood [4] is a flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to South Australia. It has a rosette of leaves and when flowering, up to twenty green or brown flowers which lean forward and have a thick, fleshy, partly hairy, insect-like labellum.

Contents

Description

Pterostylis excelsa, is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. It has a rosette of between five and twenty leaves 40–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) wide. Flowering plants have a rosette at the base of the flowering spike but the leaves are usually withered by flowering time. Between two and twenty green, brown or green and brown flowers with translucent panels and 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) long, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide are borne on a flowering spike 300–900 mm (10–40 in) tall. The flowers lean forward and there are between three and eight stem leaves wrapped around the flowering spike. The dorsal sepal and petals form a hood or "galea" over the column with the dorsal sepal having a narrow tip 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long. The lateral sepals turn downwards, are about the same width as the galea and suddenly taper to narrow tips 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long. The labellum is thick, fleshy, insect-like, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide with short hairs on the "head" end and longer ones on the sides of the "body". Flowering occurs from August to December. [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Pterostylis excelsa was first formally described in 1986 by Mark Clements from a specimen grown in the Australian National Botanic Gardens from a tuber collected from the Eyre Peninsula. The description was published in the fourth edition of the Flora of South Australia. [1] The specific epithet (excelsa) is a Latin word meaning "high", "lofty" or "distinguished". [5]

In 1941, William Nicholls described Pterostylis squamata var. valida and in 1994, David Jones raised it to species status as Pterostylis valida. However, this name is regarded as a synonym of Pterostylis excelsa. [6]

Distribution and habitat

The tall rustyhood is widespread and locally common in the south-east of South Australia, sometimes growing in large colonies. It grows in scrubland and mallee, sometimes on rock outcrops in areas receiving an average annual rainfall of 200–500 mm (8–20 in). [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Pterostylis cobarensis</i> species of plant

Pterostylis cobarensis, commonly known as the inland rustyhood or Cobar rustyhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. It has a rosette of leaves and between two and ten hairy, green and brown flowers with translucent white "windows" and a fleshy, insect-like labellum. It grows in inland areas of eastern Australia.

<i>Pterostylis squamata</i> species of plant

Pterostylis squamata, commonly known as the southern rustyhood or ruddyhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. Flowering plants have up to ten translucent green flowers with reddish-brown markings and a hairy, insect-like labellum. Non-flowering plants have a rosette of four to eight egg-shaped leaves. This species is very similar to Pterostylis rufa which has a narrower labellum and other minor differences.

<i>Pterostylis woollsii</i> species of plant

Pterostylis woollsii, commonly known as the long-tailed rustyhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a rosette of leaves at its base and up to six transparent flowers which have unusually long tips on their lateral sepals and a reddish-brown, insect-like labellum.

<i>Pterostylis hamata</i> species of plant

Pterostylis hamata, commonly known as the southern hooked rustyhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a rosette of leaves and between two and twelve transparent flowers with green and brown markings, a thick, brown, insect-like labellum and dished lateral sepals.

<i>Pterostylis multiflora</i> species of plant

Pterostylis multiflora, commonly known as the tall tiny greenhood, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. As with similar orchids, plants in flower differ from those that are not. Those not in flower have a rosette of leaves lying flat on the ground. Plants in flower lack a rosette but have up to twenty tiny green, white, and brown flowers in summer. The flowering stem has up to six stem leaves.

Pterostylis arenicola, commonly known as the sandhill rustyhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to South Australia. It has a rosette of leaves near its base and up to ten reddish-brown and white flowers with a dark brown, insect-like labellum. Its distribution is now restricted to areas around Lake Alexandrina.

<i>Pterostylis calceolus</i> species of plant

Pterostylis calceolus, commonly known as the Bungonia rustyhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It has a rosette of overlapping leaves and between two and seven reddish-brown flowers with transparent "windows" and a fleshy brown, insect-like labellum. It is only known from near Bungonia.

Pterostylis chaetophora, commonly known as the Taree rustyhood, tall rusthood or ruddy hood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a rosette of leaves at its base and up to twelve reddish-brown flowers with translucent "windows" and a fleshy, reddish-brown, bristly, insect-like labellum.

Pterostylis ciliata, commonly known as the hairy rufous greenhood, tall rusthood or hairy rustyhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a relatively large rosette of leaves at its base and up to eight or more green and brown flowers which lean forward and have a small, fleshy, insect-like labellum covered with hairs.

Pterostylis frenchii, commonly known as the tuart rufous greenhood, or tuart rustyhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Both flowering and non-flowering plants have a relatively large rosette of leaves. Flowering plants also have up to twelve white and green or white and brown flowers which lean forward and have a small, fleshy, insect-like labellum.

Pterostylis ferruginea, commonly known as the Bangham rustyhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the border area between South Australia and Victoria. It has a rosette of leaves and when flowering, up to ten upright, dark green and translucent white flowers which have an insect-like labellum.

<i>Pterostylis gibbosa</i> species of plant

Pterostylis gibbosa, commonly known as the Illawarra rustyhood, or Illawarra greenhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It has a rosette of leaves at its base and up to nine bright green flowers with translucent "windows", relatively wide lateral sepals with short-pointed tips and a dark, fleshy, insect-like labellum.

Pterostylis insectifera, commonly known as the insect-lipped rufous greenhood, or leaden rustyhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Both flowering and non-flowering plants have a relatively large rosette of leaves. Flowering plants have a similar rosette and up to eight or more flowers which have long, stiffly-held lateral sepals and a protruding, insect-like labellum.

Pterostylis lepida, commonly known as the Halbury greenhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to South Australia. Both flowering and non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves. Flowering plants have up to ten green flowers with brown and translucent striations and a small, insect-like labellum. It is only known from two small populations.

<i>Pterostylis leptochila</i> species of plant

Pterostylis leptochila, commonly known as the Ravensthorpe rufous greenhood or narrow-lipped rustyhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Both flowering and non-flowering plants have a relatively large rosette of leaves. Flowering plants also have up to five large translucent white flowers with olive green and brown lines and markings and a narrow, insect-like labellum.

Pterostylis mitchellii, commonly known as Mitchell's rustyhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. Both flowering and non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves and flowering plants have up to fifteen flowers which have wide flanges on the petals and an insect-like labellum with a white "head".

Pterostylis picta, commonly known as the painted rufous greenhood or painted rustyhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Both flowering and non-flowering plants have a relatively large rosette of leaves. Flowering plants also have up to seven large translucent white flowers with green and brown stripes and markings and a fleshy, insect-like labellum.

Pterostylis praetermissa, commonly known as the Mount Kaputar rustyhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It has a rosette of leaves and up to nine relatively small greenish and reddish-brown flowers with transparent "windows" and a reddish-brown, insect-like labellum.

<i>Pterostylis roensis</i> species of plant

Pterostylis roensis, commonly known as the painted rufous greenhood or dark rustyhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Both flowering and non-flowering plants have a relatively large rosette of leaves. Flowering plants also have up to six green or brown to blackish flowers with translucent white panels and a dark brown, fleshy, insect-like labellum.

Pterostylis saxicola, commonly known as the Sydney plains rustyhood, or Sydney plains greenhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It has a rosette of leaves at its base and up to ten reddish-brown flowers with translucent "windows", relatively wide lateral sepals with short-pointed tips and a dark brown, fleshy, insect-like labellum.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pterostylis excelsa". APNI. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  2. ↑ "Pterostylis excelsa". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 329. ISBN   978-1877069123.
  4. 1 2 3 "Pterostylis excelsa". State Herbarium of South Australia: eflora SA. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  5. ↑ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 311.
  6. ↑ "Pterostylis valida". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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