Pterostylis longifolia

1 Tall Greenhood at suppressed

Pterostylis longifolia at suppressed - 20 Jul 2024
Pterostylis longifolia at suppressed - 20 Jul 2024
Pterostylis longifolia at suppressed - 20 Jul 2024
Pterostylis longifolia at suppressed - 20 Jul 2024
Pterostylis longifolia at suppressed - 20 Jul 2024
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Identification history

Pterostylis longifolia 21 Jul 2024 Tapirlord
Pterostylis melagramma 20 Jul 2024 LisaH

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User's notes

A small stand of these delicate orchids. Pterostylis melagramma? Or Pterostylis tunstallii? I have no idea. What I did see though, was the labellum on two of the flowers snap shut when I gently moved them - amazing!

3 comments

LisaH wrote:
   21 Jul 2024
@Tapirlord - Hi Ciaran. I'm a bit confused - I found this reference (of March 2024) which says that Pterostylis longifolia was changed to Pterostylis melagramma? https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Pterostylis. What do you think?
Tapirlord wrote:
   22 Jul 2024
Heya Lisa, as I'm sure we've spoken about, orchid taxonomy is always tricky business! I honestly not aware that Pterostylis longifolia had ever been shifted, but having looked into it what from I can tell the lumping was short-lived. Jones maintains the name in his latest book, as does Lachlan Copeland who suggests that P.melegramma (in the strict sense) is restricted to far southern NSW (Nadgee and so forth) whilst P.longifolia is the common species up the NSW coast. The AlA maintains the name, as does the NSW state herbaria from what I can see so I'm happy to use it here. I wouldn't consider the source you've used as an authority on the Australia orchids (international sites are often slow to keep up). Hopefully that clears the confusion!
LisaH wrote:
   22 Jul 2024
That’s fantastic - thank you for the explanation and folllowing up. I know next to nothing about orchids, and embarrassingly relied totally on google for my limited information. Thanks again

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Sighting information

  • 4 Abundance
  • 20 Jul 2024 11:52 AM Recorded on
  • LisaH Recorded by

Additional information

  • 10cm to 30cm Plant height
  • True In flower

Species information

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  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
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