Common name: Snake Tongue Greenhood
Pterostylis ophioglossa R.Br. APNI* Synonyms: Taurantha ophioglossa (R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. APNI*
Description: Terrestrial herb.
Rosette leaves 4–6, ovate to oblong, 1–4.5 cm long, 5–20 mm wide, margins entire; petiolate.
Scape to 20 cm high. Flower 3–5 cm long, semi-nodding, white with tan or reddish stripes and suffusions. Apex of galea decurved. Dorsal sepal long-acuminate. Lateral sepals tightly embracing the galea; sinus broadly V-shaped when viewed from the front, flat or shallowly mounded when viewed from the side; free points filiform, 20–40 mm long, erect or curved forwards. Petals broad, apex obtuse to subacute. Labellum narrow-ovate to lanceolate, 12–17 mm long, c. 3 mm wide, brown, apex deeply notched, the lobes nearly parallel, curved, distal third protruding from the sinus in the set position.
Flowering: April–July.
Distribution and occurrence: Common in sheltered areas of sclerophyll forest and scrub in coastal and near-coastal districts, north of Sydney.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC
Other Australian states: Qld
Populations with large, reddish flowers occur near Tuncurry. Hybridizes wth P. concinna (producing P. X conoglossa Upton) and P.obtusa (producing P. X furcillata Rupp)
Text by D. L. Jones
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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