Marsh greenhood facts for kids

The marsh greenhood (scientific name: Pterostylis uliginosa) is a special type of orchid that grows only in south-eastern Australia. Like many orchids, it looks a bit different depending on whether it's flowering or not. When it's not flowering, it has a group of leaves that form a circle, called a rosette. But when it's ready to bloom, it grows a tall stem with up to seven small green and white flowers. You'll usually find this orchid in very wet places, often where there's standing water.

What the Marsh Greenhood Looks Like

The marsh greenhood is a plant that grows in the ground. It lives for many years and loses its leaves each year. It has a special underground storage part, called a tuber, which is like a small potato.

When the plant is not flowering, it has a rosette of three to eight dark green leaves. These leaves are shaped like an egg or oval and lie flat on the ground. Each leaf is about 5–16 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and 4–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide.

When the plant flowers, it grows a fleshy stem about 60–150 mm (2–6 in) tall. This stem can have up to seven bright green and white striped flowers. Each flower is about 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. Usually, there are only two or three flowers on a plant, and only one or two are open at the same time.

The top part of the flower, called the "galea," is like a hood. It's made from the top sepal (a leaf-like part) and the petals joined together. This hood covers the central part of the flower, called the column. The top sepal curves forward and has a short point. The side sepals stand upright and partly close the front of the flower. They have thin, thread-like tips that are about 2 mm (0.08 in) long.

The labellum is the orchid's special lip-like petal. It is about 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide. You usually can't see it from outside the flower. These orchids bloom from November to March.

How it Got its Name

The marsh greenhood was first officially described in 1998 by a botanist named David Jones. The scientific name uliginosa comes from a Latin word that means "full of moisture," "wet," or "marshy." This name perfectly describes where this orchid loves to grow!

Where the Marsh Greenhood Lives

The marsh greenhood grows in very wet places, such as swamps and marshes. It often grows with other small plants. You can find it in different parts of Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. It's spread out across these areas, but not in one continuous patch.