Pterostylis metcalfei

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Metcalfe's greenhood
Pterostylis metcalfei (side).jpg
Pterostylis metcalfei growing near Ebor
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Cranichideae
Genus: Pterostylis
Species:
P. metcalfei
Binomial name
Pterostylis metcalfei
Synonyms[2]
  • Diplodium metcalfei (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Pterostylis metcalfei, commonly known as Metcalfe's greenhood, the large kinked greenhood orchid or Ebor greenhood is a species of orchid which is endemic to the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. 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. This greenhood has a dark green and white striped flower and is known from only three locations. It is therefore listed as an endangered species.

Description[]

Pterostylis metcalfei has a rosette of 3 to 5 leaves, each leaf 7–30 mm (0.3–1 in) long, 7–20 mm (0.3–0.8 in) wide, dark green and flat.[3][4]

The flower stem is 10–30 cm (4–10 in)1 long and bears a single flower 23–28 mm (0.9–1 in) long and 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) wide and shiny, greenish-white with darker green stripes. The dorsal sepal is erect at its base but then arches forward, forming a hood over the labellum and has a threadlike tip, 7–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long. The labellum is blunt, sharply kinked in the middle and is 13.5–17 mm (0.53–0.67 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. Flowering occurs from March to May.[3][4]

Front view of Pterostylis metcalfei

Taxonomy and naming[]

Pterostylis metcalfei was first formally described by David L. Jones in 1997 from a specimen collected by Peter Metcalfe on Doughboy Mountain, about 10 km (6 mi) south of Wongwibindi station, on the road to Wollomombi, on 8 May 1994. The description was published in The Orchadian.[1] In 2002, Jones and Clements transferred the species to the genus Diplodium[2][5] but the move has not been accepted by the National Herbarium of New South Wales[6] nor by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.[7] The specific epithet (metcalfei) honours the collector of the type specimen, Peter Metcalfe.

Distribution and habitat[]

The species is endemic to the New England Tablelands (biogeographic region) at altitudes of 1,000 to 1,350 m (3,000 to 4,000 ft). It is found on ridges and slopes with well drained soil derived from granite and basalt, growing among grass and shrubs.[3] It is known from only three locations, only one of which is in a national park, so that it is threatened by cattle grazing and trampling.[8]

Conservation status[]

The Scientific Committee of the Office of Environment and Heritage, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has listed P. metcalfei as an Endangered Species on Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Pterostylis metcalfei". APNI. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Diplodium metcalfei". APNI. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Jones, David L. (2006). A Complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia including the Island Territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 289. ISBN 978-1877069123.
  4. ^ a b "Metcalfe's Greenhood - profile". NSW Government Department of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  5. ^ Jones, David L.; Clements, Mark A. (2002). A Review of Pterostylis (Orchidaceae). Essendon, Vic.: Australian Orchid Foundation. ISBN 978-0642549044.
  6. ^ "Pterostylis metcalfei". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney; plantnet. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Diplodium metcalfei". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  8. ^ a b "Pterostylis metcalfei (a terrestrial orchid) - endangered species listing". : Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
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