Pterostylis mutica

R.Br.

Midget greenhood, Blunt Greenhood

Orchidaceae Edible: Tuber, Root 615 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Pterostylis mutica, commonly known as the midget greenhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia, occurring in all states but not the Northern Territory. There is a rosette of leaves at the base of the flowering stem and up to fifteen pale green flowers which have a sensitive labellum.

Description

An orchid. It is a small herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It forms tubers. It grows 10-20 cm high. It has one stem. The leaves are in a ring at the base. There are 5-14 leaves. The flowers are green. There are 2-20 small flowers crowded in a spike arranged like a spiral. Each flower is about 1 cm long. The flowers have a hood.

Edible Uses

The tubers and roots are eaten.

Distribution

It grows in warm temperate places. It grows on clay and clay loam soils.

Where It Grows

Australia*, New Zealand, Tasmania,

Notes

There are about 150 Pterostylis species. They are mostly in the Australia and Pacific area.

References (7)

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
Hunter, J. T. & Sheringham, P., 2006, Vegetation and Floristics of Melville Range Nature Reserve. A Report to the New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service. p 178
Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 70
Mallee Wildflower Committee, Flowers of the Mallee. p 11

Show all 7 references

Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 89
Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 76