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Pterostylis longifolia

R. Br.

Long-leaf Greenhood, Tall green-hood

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

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

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

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

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) David James, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by David James

Pterostylis longifolia, commonly known as the common leafy greenhood or tall greenhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. Flowering plants have up to seven flowers which are green, partly transparent and which have a labellum which is pale green and hairy with a blackish central stripe. Non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves but flowering plants lack the rosette, instead having five to eight stem leaves. A similar species, Pterostylis melagramma has paler green flowers which have a less hairy labellum.

Description

A slender orchid. The leaves form a ring or rosette but these have normally gone by flowering time. There are 3 to 10 spreading long and narrow leaves 6-10 cm long. It has a tough, erect flowering stem. This is 10-60 cm high.

Edible Uses

The tuber and root are edible.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in gullies and moist shady places. It can also grow in drier locations.

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 melagramma and Pterostylis williamsonii.

Synonyms

Bunochilus longifolius (R. Br.) D. L. Jones & M. A. Clem.Oligochaetochilus longifolius (R. Br.) Szlach.

References (10)

  • 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 56
  • Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 73
  • Dashorst, G.R.M., and Jessop, J.P., 1998, Plants of the Adelaide Plains & Hills. Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium. p 200
Show all 10 references
  • Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 70
  • Low, T., 1992, Bush Tucker. Australia’s Wild Food Harvest. Angus & Robertson. p 121
  • Minchin, R.F., Tasmanian Wildflowers. A Field Guide. Volume one. Regal Publications, Launceston p 38
  • Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 76
  • Williams, K.A.W., 1999, Native Plants of Queensland Volume 4. Keith A.W. Williams North Ipswich, Australia. p 334

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