WANOSCG Orchid Fact Sheet

Pterostylis neopolyphylla

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Name and Authority

Pterostylis neopolyphylla M.Idrees & J.M.H.Shaw

Synonyms (previous names)

Pterostylis polyphylla; Diplodium polyphyllum

Common Name

Mount Manypeaks snail

Complex Name

Pterostylis nana (Snail Orchids)

Originally Described by

David Jones & Christopher French in Australian Orchid Review 84(3): 40-42 (2019) as Diplodium polyphyllum

Distribution and Habitat

Mount Manypeaks to Bremer Bay, growing in shallow sand over granite in coastal shrublands.

Flowering Months

· · · · · · · Aug Sep · · ·

Description

A little known species 40–60 mm high with seven to nine basal leaves forming a ground hugging or ascending basal rosette 16–36 mm across, two to three cauline leaves and one (rarely two) translucent, green and white flowers 4–5 mm across.

Distinguishing Features

It is distinguished from the related Lort River Snail Orchid (Pterostylis lortensis) by its narrower, more numerous cauline leaves and shorter sepals which are distinctly clubbed. From Mt Chudalup Snail Orchid (P. tylosa) it is distinguished by its more numerous rosette leaves and smaller flower.

WA Conservation Code (Threatened Status)

Priority Two

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