Pterostylis auriculata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greenhood |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Pterostylis
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| Species: |
auriculata
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Pterostylis auriculata is a special kind of orchid that grows only in New Zealand. It's often called a "greenhood" because of its unique flower shape. Unlike many other greenhood orchids, this one doesn't have a bunch of leaves at its base. Instead, its leaves grow right on the flowering stem. The whole plant looks shiny, and it usually has one green flower with a touch of red.
What it Looks Like
Pterostylis auriculata is a plant that grows from the ground. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, so its leaves die back each year. This plant is a herb, which means it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree. It grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root.
This greenhood has four shiny green leaves on its flowering stem. The leaves are shaped like a spear, about 125 to 180 millimeters (5 to 7 inches) long. They are also about 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide. The leaf at the very top is usually taller than the flower itself.
The Flower
The plant produces a single, shiny green flower. It often has reddish tips. The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, joins with the petals. Together, they form a hood or "galea" over the central part of the flower, which is called the column. This dorsal sepal is shaped like a narrow egg and is about 15 to 18 millimeters (0.6 to 0.7 inches) long. It has a sharp point at the end.
The two side sepals, called the lateral sepals, stand upright. They have narrow tips that can be up to 25 millimeters (1 inch) long. These two sepals spread out a little from each other. The "labellum" is a special part of the orchid flower. For this greenhood, it is red and about 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) long. It is also about 2 to 5 millimeters (0.08 to 0.2 inches) wide and curves nicely. It has a clear line down the middle. This orchid usually blooms in the spring, from October to November in New Zealand.
Naming the Greenhood
This greenhood orchid was first officially described in 1889. A scientist named William Colenso gave it its formal name. He published his description in a scientific paper called Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. The second part of its scientific name, auriculata, means "small eared." This might refer to a small ear-like shape on the flower.
Where it Lives
You can find this greenhood growing in damp, very shady forests. It lives in the southern parts of the South Island of New Zealand. It also grows on several islands: Chatham Island, Stewart Island, and Kapiti Island.
