Hairy snail orchid facts for kids

Pterostylis clavigera, commonly known as the hairy snail orchid is a species of orchid which is endemic to New South Wales. It has a rosette of leaves at its base, and when flowering, a single narrow, bright green and white flower on a rough flowering stem.

Description

Pterostylis clavigera is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a rosette of dull green leaves 7–17 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide with wavy edges. A single bright green and white flower, 11–17 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide is borne on a flowering stem 50–150 mm (2–6 in) high and covered with short hairs. The dorsal sepal and petals are fused, forming a hood or "galea" over the column, the sepal and petals with a short, nearly horizontal point on the end. The lateral sepals are erect, in close contact with the galea and have thread-like tips 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long. The lateral sepals almost close off the front of the flower and the sinus between them has a dark green central area. The labellum is 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide and hidden inside the flower. Flowering occurs from June to September.

Taxonomy and naming

Pterostylis clavigera was first formally described in 1885 by Robert D. FitzGerald and the description was published in Journal of Botany, British and Foreign. The specific epithet (clavigera) is a Latin word meaning "club-bearing".

Distribution and habitat

The hairy snail orchid grows in shrubland, woodland and rocky slopes between Mudgee and Dubbo and in nearby areas.