Swan greenhood (Pterostylis cycnocephala)
Description
Pterostylis cycnocephala, commonly known as the swan greenhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a rosette of leaves and up to 24 green flowers which have a labellum with a dark green, beak-like appendage. It is widespread and common from the Darling Downs in Queensland to Tasmania, usually growing with grasses. Pterostylis cycnocephala, is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. It has a rosette of between six and twelve dark green leaves at the base of the flowering spike, each leaf 12–35 mm (0.5–1 in) long and 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) wide. Up to 24 shiny green flowers 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide are borne on a flowering spike 80–300 mm (3–10 in) tall. Three to six stem leaves are wrapped around the flowering spike. The dorsal sepal and petals form a hood or "galea" over the column. The dorsal sepal is blunt and curved downwards with the sides turned down. The lateral sepals turn downwards, about 6 mm (0.2 in) long and 5 mm (0.2 in) wide, dished and joined for most of their length. The labellum is rectangular in shape, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and whitish-green with a dark green, beak-like appendage pointing forward at its base. Flowering occurs from August to December.
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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