Sandhill greenhood orchid (Pterostylis arenicola)
Description
Pterostylis arenicola is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which only occurs as solitary plants. It has a rosette of between eight and twelve leaves at the base of the flowering spike. The leaves are 15–30 mm (0.6–1 in) long and 6–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide and wither as the flowers develop. Up to ten dark brown and translucent white flowers 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) long and 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide are borne on a flowering spike which elongates to 100–250 mm (4–10 in) tall as the flowers develop. The dorsal sepal and petals form a hood called the "galea" over the column with the dorsal sepal having a narrow tip 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Asparagales
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Family: Orchidaceae
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Genus: Pterostylis
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