Just recently picked up a large pot of these little plants. The guy I got them from has done an amazing job of raising them. It looks like every plant has produced a flower. Very impressive. Hopefully I can do an equally good job.
Hi Ashraf61 this is just 1 of over 100 species of deciduous terrestrial orchids known as "greenhoods" (for obvious reasons) that are found in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. The entire group was once under the genus Pterostylis however this has been divided in recent years into several separate genuses (is that the plural of genus?).
The flowers of these orchids are specially adapted to aid pollination by trapping insects (usually small native bees) against the column. Doing so, there is a much better chance of the pollinia being attached successfully to the struggling insect.
In this sub-group flowers are made up of the dorsal sepal and petals which form the hood and the lateral sepals which are fused to complete the front of the chamber. The labellum (just visible protruding from the opening on the front 2 flowers) is hinged at the bottom and has a sensitive area that when stimulated causes the whole labellum to swing forward against the column.
If you are interested I have pictures of some other species which I can post.
We are proud that another genius from Australia is with us, We are already impressed by Roy and Bree. there is some special ingredient in Australian soil.
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