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Pterostylis cycnocephala

Fitzg.

Swan greenhood, Swan-headed Greenhood

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(c) Reiner Richter, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Reiner Richter

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(c) Friends Chiltern Mt Pilot NP, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

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(c) Andrew Dilley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Andrew Dilley

Pterostylis cycnocephala, commonly known as the swan greenhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a rosette of leaves and up to 24 green flowers which have a labellum with a dark green, beak-like appendage. It is widespread and common from the Darling Downs in Queensland to Tasmania, usually growing with grasses.

Description

An orchid in the genus Pterostylis, found in warm temperate regions of Australia and the Pacific area. The tubers and roots are edible parts of the plant.

Edible Uses

The tubers and roots are eaten.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Tasmania,

Notes

There are about 150 Pterostylis species. They are mostly in the Australia and Pacific area. The Tasmanian one may be Pterostylis ziegeleri.

Synonyms

Hymenochilus cycnocephalus (Fitzg.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. Oligochaetochilus cycnocephalus (Fitzg.) Szlach.

References (6)

  • Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 849
  • Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 196
  • Collier, P., 1993, Orchids of Tasmania. Plant Identikit. Society for growing Australian Plants. Tasmania. p 55
  • Jones, D., Wapstra, H., Tonelli, P., and Harris S., 1999, The Orchids of Tasmania. Miegunyah Press, MUP, Victoria, Australia. p 222
  • Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 70
Show all 6 references
  • Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 76 (Pterostylis ziegeleri)

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