Maroonhood facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maroonhood
Pterostylis erecta growing in the Tarkine
Scientific classification
Genus:	Pterostylis
Species:	pedunculata

The Pterostylis pedunculata, often called the upright maroonhood, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in south-eastern Australia. When it flowers, it has a group of leaves at its base. It also has a single green flower. This flower is white near the bottom and has reddish-brown to black colors near the top. There is a small gap between its petals and side sepals. This orchid is very common and can be found in many different places.

What it Looks Like

The upright maroonhood is a plant that grows from the ground. It lives for many years and has an underground part called a tuber. Its leaves fall off during some seasons.

When the plant flowers, it has a group of 2 to 6 leaves. These leaves have stalks and are about 1 to 6.5 centimeters long and 0.5 to 2 centimeters wide. A single flower grows on a stem that is 6 to 25 centimeters tall. The flower itself is about 1.5 to 2 centimeters long and 0.5 to 0.7 centimeters wide.

The flowers are green. They are white near the bottom and have reddish-brown or black colors near the top. The top part of the flower looks like a hood. This hood is made from a sepal and petals joined together. It covers a central part of the flower called the column. The top sepal is a bit longer than the petals and has a sharp tip.

There is a space between the petals and the side sepals. These side sepals have thin, thread-like tips that are 1.6 to 3 centimeters long. The gap between the side sepals has a deep, V-shaped notch in the middle. The labellum (a special part of the orchid flower) is reddish-brown and shaped like an egg. It is about 0.5 to 0.7 centimeters long and 0.3 centimeters wide. You can just see it above the V-shaped notch. These orchids usually flower from July to November.

How it Got its Name

The upright maroonhood was first officially described in 1810. This was done by a botanist named Robert Brown. He published his description in a book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.

The second part of its scientific name, pedunculata, is a Latin word. It means "small, slender stalk." This name likely refers to the flower's stem.

Where it Lives

The maroonhood orchid is found in many places and is quite common. It likes moist, sheltered areas in forests. You can also find it growing in coastal scrubland.

It grows from south-eastern Queensland all the way to south-eastern South Australia and also in Tasmania. In New South Wales, it mostly grows near the coast. However, it can also be found further inland, even in the Australian Capital Territory.