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Dark Banded Greenhood
Pterostylis sanguinea D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. 1989

Synonyms

Notes

The Dark Banded Greenhood is a common and widespread species across southern parts of Australia, including south-western WA, south-eastern SA, southern VIC, and northern TAS. Although similar to other species of Greenhood, in particular the Banded Greenhood (Pterostylis vittata) and the Coastal Banded Greenhood (Pterostylis orbiculata), the Dark Banded Greenhood can be identified by its characteristic flowers with very broad, flat, almost circular lateral sepals and a broad labellum. The colour of the flowers is highly variable and can range from dark brown to green.

The main flowering season is winter. Dark Banded Greenhoods usually grow in small groups in the vicinity of trees and can be found in a wide range of different habitats, although avoiding areas of high rainfall. They are particularly abundant across the Swan coastal plain near Perth and throughout the western Wheatbelt region of WA.

Photos

Pterostylis sanguinea
Specimen with dark-brown flowers. (Westdale, WA, 24 / 08 / 2017)
Pterostylis sanguinea
Specimen with reddish flowers. (Wellard, WA, 12 / 08 / 2017)
Pterostylis sanguinea
View of the characteristic, broad lateral sepals and broad labellum. (Westdale, WA, 24 / 08 / 2017)
Pterostylis sanguinea
Another view of the broad, flat lateral sepals and labellum, here of a green specimen. (Wellard, WA, 10 / 07 / 2017)
Pterostylis sanguinea
Small plants often carry only a single flower… (Wellard, WA, 05 / 08 / 2017)
Pterostylis sanguinea
…while tall specimens can have over a dozen flowers that are often densely packed. (Wellard, WA, 07 / 07 / 2018)
Pterostylis sanguinea
View of the whole plant. (Wellard, WA, 05 / 08 / 2017)
Pterostylis sanguinea
Dark Banded Greenhoods usually grow in small colonies. (Wellard, WA, 10 / 07 / 2017)
Pterostylis sanguinea
Close-up view of the tiny labellum. (Wellard, WA, 12 / 08 / 2017)
Pterostylis sanguinea
Non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves on the ground. (Wellard, WA, 12 / 08 / 2017)

References