Tall greenhood facts for kids
The Tall Greenhood (Pterostylis longifolia) is a special type of orchid plant. It is also known as the Common Leafy Greenhood. This orchid grows only in eastern Australia.
When it flowers, the Tall Greenhood has up to seven green, see-through flowers. Each flower has a pale green, hairy labellum (a special lip-like petal) with a dark stripe down the middle.
Plants that are not flowering have a group of leaves shaped like a rosette close to the ground. But flowering plants do not have this rosette. Instead, they have five to eight leaves along their stem.
A similar orchid, Pterostylis melagramma, has lighter green flowers. Its labellum is also less hairy than the Tall Greenhood's.
Quick facts for kids Tall greenhood |
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| Pterostylis longifolia growing near Ebor | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
longifolia
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Contents
What the Tall Greenhood Looks Like
The Tall Greenhood is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It is also a deciduous herb, so its leaves fall off at certain times. It grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root.
Leaves and Stems
If the plant is not flowering, it has a rosette of three to six leaves. These leaves are long and narrow, like a spear. Each leaf is about 1 to 4 centimeters (0.4 to 1.6 inches) long. They are about 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
Flowering plants have a tall stem, called a flowering spike. This spike can grow up to 15 to 40 centimeters (6 to 16 inches) high. Along this spike, there are five to eight stem leaves. These stem leaves are about 3 to 9 centimeters (1.2 to 3.5 inches) long. They are about 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
Flowers
The flowers are green and partly see-through. They are about 1.2 to 1.4 centimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. They are also about 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
The two side petals, called lateral sepals, point downwards. They have a pointy tip and are about 1 to 1.2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long. They are about 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
The special lip-like petal, the labellum, is about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. It is about 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. It is pale green and covered in tiny hairs. There is a dark stripe right down its middle.
Tall Greenhoods usually flower from April to September.
Naming the Tall Greenhood
The Tall Greenhood was first officially described in 1880. A famous botanist named Robert Brown gave it its scientific name. He wrote about it in a book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.
The scientific name longifolia comes from two Latin words. Longus means "long," and folia means "leaves." So, longifolia means "long-leaved."
Where the Tall Greenhood Grows
The Tall Greenhood grows in New South Wales and southern Queensland. You can find it along the coast and in the tablelands (flat, high areas). It likes to grow in forests and in coastal scrubland.
