Slender greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slender greenhood |
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| Pterostylis foliata growing near Anglesea | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
foliata
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The Pterostylis foliata, also known as the slender greenhood, is a type of orchid. You can find this special plant across south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. When it blooms, it has a group of three to six dark green, crinkled leaves. These leaves grow close together around the stem where the flower appears. The plant usually has one dark green and brown flower. This flower has a unique V-shape between its lower parts, called sepals.
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What Does the Slender Greenhood Look Like?
The slender greenhood is a plant that grows on land. It's a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It also loses its leaves each year, making it deciduous. This plant has a special underground part called a tuber, which stores food.
Leaves and Flowers
When the plant is ready to flower, it grows a group of leaves called a rosette. There are usually three to six dark green, crinkled leaves. They are about 30 to 80 millimeters (about 1 to 3 inches) long and 10 to 16 millimeters (about 0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide. These leaves grow tightly around the bottom of the flowering stem.
A single flower grows on a tall stem, which can be 120 to 300 millimeters (about 5 to 12 inches) high. Each flower is about 17 to 20 millimeters (about 0.7 to 0.8 inches) long and 7 to 9 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. The flowers are a mix of dark green and brown colors.
Flower Parts
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, and the petals are joined together. They form a hood-like shape over the central part of the flower, known as the column. The dorsal sepal is longer than the petals and has a sharp tip. The lower parts of the flower, called the lateral sepals, stand upright and touch this hood. There's a clear V-shaped space between these lateral sepals.
The labellum is another important part of the flower. It's about 12 to 15 millimeters (about 0.5 to 0.6 inches) long and 2 to 3 millimeters (about 0.08 to 0.12 inches) wide. It's brown and has a rounded end, sticking out above the V-shaped space. You can usually see these flowers blooming from August to January.
How the Slender Greenhood Got Its Name
The slender greenhood, or Pterostylis foliata, was first officially described in 1853. A scientist named Joseph Dalton Hooker wrote about it after finding a sample in the Ruahine Mountains on the North Island of New Zealand. His description was published in a book called Flora Novae-Zelandiae. The second part of its scientific name, foliata, comes from a Latin word. It means "leafy," which makes sense because of its noticeable leaves.
Where Does the Slender Greenhood Live?
This orchid prefers to grow in damp, grassy forests. It likes shady spots where it can be protected from too much sun. While it's found in many places, it's not very common. You can find it in:
- New South Wales (south of Batlow)
- Victoria
- South-eastern South Australia
- Tasmania
- Both the North and South Islands of New Zealand
