Winter greenhood facts for kids
Pterostylis alobula, also known as the winter greenhood, is a special type of orchid. It grows only in New Zealand. Like other greenhood orchids, its look changes depending on whether it's flowering or not.
When the plant is not flowering, it has a group of leaves that lie flat on the ground. This group of leaves is called a rosette. But when it's ready to flower, a single flower grows on a tall stem. The winter greenhood has pale green and white striped flowers. They look a bit like another New Zealand orchid, P. trullifolia, but they are usually bigger and lighter in color.
Quick facts for kids Winter greenhood |
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| Pterostylis alobula on Rangitoto Island | |
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| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
alobula
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Contents
What Does the Winter Greenhood Look Like?
The winter greenhood is a plant that grows from an underground part called a tuber. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so some parts die back each year.
Leaves and Stems
When the plant is not flowering, it has a rosette of leaves. These leaves are usually egg-shaped. They are about 5 to 15 millimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) long. Each leaf has a small stalk up to 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) long.
Flowering plants usually have one pale green flower with white stripes. This flower grows on a stem up to 150 millimeters (6 inches) tall. The stem also has two to six long, narrow leaves. These stem leaves are about 5 to 25 millimeters (0.2 to 1 inch) long.
The Flower's Unique Shape
The flower of the winter greenhood is about 10 to 20 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) high. The top part of the flower forms a hood. This hood covers a central part of the flower called the column. The tip of the hood usually points straight out.
The side parts of the flower stand up close to the hood. A red, curved part sticks out from the flower. This part is called the labellum. Winter greenhoods usually flower from March to October.
Where Does the Winter Greenhood Live?
The winter greenhood grows in different places across New Zealand. You can find it on both the North and South Islands. It also grows on some smaller islands off the coast.
This orchid often grows in thin layers of fallen leaves. It likes to be under shrubs in forests. Sometimes, it can also be found in scrubland or even in grassy fields.
How the Winter Greenhood Got Its Name
The winter greenhood was first officially described in 1968. A scientist named Edwin Hatch gave it the name Pterostylis trullifolia var. alobula. Later in 1968, another scientist, Lucy Moore, changed it to its current species name, Pterostylis alobula.
The second part of its name, alobula, comes from Latin words. The word lobus means "a long part" or "pod." The "a-" at the beginning means "without." So, alobula means "without a lobe" or "without a long part."
