About Pterostylis montana Hatch
Pterostylis montana Hatch is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber, and often forms small colonies. Flowering individuals produce a single green flower marked with translucent white stripes, borne on a flowering stem that ranges from 30 to 350 mm (1 to 10 inches) tall. The stem holds up to six strongly keeled leaves, which are linear to lance-shaped and increase in size toward the top of the stem. The largest leaves are between 140 and 180 mm (6 to 7 inches) long and approximately 10 mm (0.4 inches) wide. The dorsal sepal and petals are fused together to form a hood, also called a "galea", that covers the column. The dorsal sepal is 18 to 30 mm (0.7 to 1 inch) tall, stands upright near its base then suddenly curves forward, ending in a short tip that is slightly longer than the petals. The lateral sepals are more or less erect, spaced apart from each other, and have short, narrow tips that project just above the galea. There is a broad V-shaped gap between the two lateral sepals, and a wide open space between the lateral sepals and the galea. The labellum is reddish-green, darker toward its tip, flattened, and marked with a central ridge; its tip is twisted to one side. Flowering takes place between September and December. This greenhood orchid grows in a wide variety of habitats, from dense forests to peat bogs, and is found on the North, South, and Chatham Islands.
