Pterostylis australis (Southern Greenhood (Southern Greenhood) Not local
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Pterostylidinae
Genus: Pterostylis
Species: Pterostylis australis
Common name: Southern Greenhood
The New Zealand native genus Pterostylis is an interesting one in that it is distinctive by having flowers equipped with a mobile lip. This mobile lip is a pollination adaptation. The pollinating insect lands on the flower, and alights on the lip. Its weight causes the lip to tip, forcing the insect into a position where it pollinates the flower.
Pterostylis australis is a perennial herb forming large colonies through vegetative extension. It develops erect smooth flowering stems up to 250 mm tall.
More information at http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/c/flora/factsheets/NZPCN_Species_1209.pdf
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