About Lyperanthus serratus Lindl.
Lyperanthus serratus is a tuberous perennial herb that grows 25–50 cm (10–20 in) tall. It produces 3 to 10 green, yellow and brown flowers from September to October, each flower 3–5 cm (1–2 in) wide. The flowers have white non-secreting glandular hairs on the labellum. The entire plant is covered in a powdery bloom, except for the innermost parts of the flower. This species has a single leaf, which is described as both linear and lance-shaped, arched, ribbed, leathery, dark green with a paler lower surface. The leaf measures 15–35 cm (6–14 in, or cited as 150–350 mm in the original) long and 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.
Lyperanthus serratus occurs in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographical regions of Western Australia. It grows in sand, loam, or sandy clay, across a range of habitats including forest, woodland, and heath, and often grows through low, dense vegetation.
Like other Australian terrestrial orchids, Lyperanthus serratus is not well known in cultivation. Success has been achieved in cultivating the closely related species Lyperanthus suaveolens.
