Pterostylis erubescens

Pterostylis erubescens D.L.Jones & C.J.French

Pterostylis sp. 'red flowered'; Diplodium erubescens

Red-sepalled Snail Orchid

Pterostylis nana (Snail Orchids)

David Jones & Christopher French in Austral.Orchid Rev. 79(3):38-41 (2014)

Bindoon to Manypeaks (town), growing in sand, sandy-clay and lateritic soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands. In some areas it can be found in shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops.

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A robust species 120–220 mm high with three to four basal leaves forming an ascending rosette 15–25 mm across, eight to 13 cauline leaves and one (rarely two) translucent, dull green to reddish-brown and white flowers 7–8 mm across. The dorsal sepal extends beyond the petals to form a short point. When growing in exposed locations the flattened basal rosette of leaves is well defined, however, when growing in sheltered locations such as under dense vegetation the rosette is often loose and poorly defined.

It is distinguished from the related Tall Snail Orchid (Pterostylis pyramidalis) by its hairy flower stem (smooth in P. pyramidalis) and reddish-brown tipped dorsal sepal and petals, this latter feature also distinguishing it from most other members of the Pterostylis nana complex.

Not Listed