Pterostylis concava explained

Pterostylis concava, commonly known as the pouched greenhood or cupped banded greenhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. The plants either have a rosette of leaves in the years when not flowering or stem leaves on a flowering spike. When flowering, it has up to ten or more flowers which are dark reddish-brown, sometimes green and white with deeply cupped lateral sepals. It is an uncommon orchid, mostly found between Bindoon and Mount Barker.

Description

Pterostylis concava, is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. Non-flowering plants have a rosette of between four and eight leaves, each leaf NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide on a stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. When flowering, there are ten or more dark reddish-brown, green or green and white flowers borne on a flowering spike NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 high. The flowering spike has between three and nine stem leaves which are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The flowers are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The dorsal sepal and petals form a hood called the "galea" over the column. The lateral sepals turn downwards, are deeply dished, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and joined at their base. The labellum is dark brown, hairy and insect-like, about 7sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, 4sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and flicks upwards when touched. Flowering occurs from June to early September.[1] [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Pterostylis concava was first formally described in 1989 by David Jones and Mark Clements and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research from a specimen collected between Boyup Brook and Cranbrook.[4] The specific epithet (concava) is a Latin word meaning "hollowed" or "arched inward"[5] referring to the dished lateral sepals.

Distribution and habitat

The pouched greenhood grows in woodland and forest, usually in moist, sheltered locations between Bindoon and Mount Barker with a disjunct population east of Esperance. It occurs in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions.

Conservation

Pterostylis concava is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jones. David L.. A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. 2006. New Holland. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.. 978-1877069123. 338–339.
  2. Book: Brown. Andrew. Dundas. Pat. Dixon. Kingsley. Hopper. Stephen. Orchids of Western Australia. 2008. University of Western Australia Press. Crawley, Western Australia. 9780980296457. 386.
  3. Book: Hoffman. Noel. Brown. Andrew. Orchids of South-West Australia. 2011. Noel Hoffman. Gooseberry Hill. 9780646562322. 420. 3rd.
  4. Web site: Pterostylis concava. APNI. 23 June 2017.
  5. Book: Brown. Roland Wilbur. The Composition of Scientific Words. 1956. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C.page =98.