Pterostylis aestiva
Pterostylis aestiva, commonly known as the long-tongued summer greenhood, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. As with similar greenhoods, the flowering plants differ from those which are not flowering. The non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves flat on the ground but the flowering plants have a single flower with leaves on the flowering spike.
Description
Pterostylis aestiva is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and when not flowering, a rosette of dark bluish-green leaves, each leaf long and wide. Flowering plants have a single flower long and wide borne on a spike high with between three and five stem leaves. The flowers are dark bluish-green, white and brown. The dorsal sepal and petals are fused, forming a hood or "galea" over the column. The dorsal sepal curves forward with a thread-like tip long. The lateral sepals are held closely against the galea, have an erect, thread-like tip long and a protruding sinus between their bases. The labellum is long, about wide, brown, blunt, and curved and protrudes above the sinus. Flowering occurs from January to April.
Taxonomy and naming
Pterostylis aestiva was first formally described in 1972 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Wulgulmerang. The description was published in Muelleria. The specific epithet is a Latin word meaning "pertaining to summer".
Distribution and habitat
The long-tongued summer greenhood grows among grasses in high rainfall forests in north-east Victoria and New South Wales as far north as Mount Canobolas.
Use in horticulture
This greenhood is easily grows in pots although plants must be kept moist during the growing season and dry when dormant.