Pterostylis Sp. 'skinny'

''Pterostylis'' is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Commonly called greenhood orchids, they are terrestrial, deciduous, perennial, tuberous, herbs found in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, New Caledonia and one Indonesian island. The flowers are mostly green, sometimes with brown, reddish or white stripes, and are distinguished from other orchids by their unusual flower structures and pollination mechanism.

Description

Greenhood orchids are all terrestrial herbs with an underground tuber like many other genera of orchids but are distinguished by a hood-like "galea" formed by the fusing of the dorsal sepal and two lateral petals. The galea curves forward, covers the sexual parts of the flower, is important in the pollination process and is about as long as the two petals. The dorsal sepal is translucent white with green, reddish or brown stripes. The two lateral sepals are joined at their base, form the front of the flower and usually protrude to form "points" or "ears" which extend above or to the side of the galea. The third (medial) petal forms the highly modified labellum. As in other orchids, the sexual parts of the flower form part of the column and in all greenhoods, this structure has a pair of mostly translucent wings and is also important in pollination.

The tuber of a greenhood is usually more or less spherical in shape and lasts for about a year then dies. A new one is produced early in the life of the parent tuber at the same time as a new shoot is produced and continues to grow, reaching maturity at the end of the growing season. In some species, a larger number of "daughter" tubers grow, and a colony of orchids is produced. The leaves are either attached in a rosette to the base of the peduncle or "stalk" of the plant by a short petiole, or further up it, in which case the leaves are sessile. There may be one or several flowers on the peduncle.

The fruit of a greenhood is a dehiscent capsule containing up to 500 tiny seeds and is oblong to elliptic in shape with three ridges. Other parts of the flower wither soon after pollination and the dry remains are attached to the end of the capsule.

Taxonomy and naming

The first observation of ''Pterostylis'' by European botanists was probably by Joseph Banks when visited Botany Bay in 1770 but any specimens collected were lost later in the voyage. The first formal description of a greenhood was by Jacques Labillardière who collected a specimen from Bruny Island and gave it the name ''Disperis alata''. After several name changes, ''Disperis alata'' is now known as ''Pterostylis alata''. John White, the first surgeon-general of the colony of New South Wales collected several species and George Caley collected 208 greenhood specimens from 16 species and described them in great detail, including details of their habitat and gave them names like ''Druids Cap patersoni'' but did not publish his work.

The genus ''Pterostylis'' was first raised by Robert Brown who formally described 19 species but did not nominate a type species. The species he described were collected from the east coast of the mainland and from Tasmania and the descriptions were published in '' Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae''.

Alan Cunningham was the first to describe a New Zealand species, '' P. banksii'' and John Lindley described the first four Western Australian species, '' P. vittata'', '' P. pyramidalis'', '' P. barbata'' and '' P. scabra'' from specimens collected by James Drummond. About 300 species are recognised and about 200 of them have been formally described and named.

In 2001 the genus ''Pterostylis'' was split such that two new genera, ''Plumatichilos'' and ''Oligochaetochilus'', were established based on morphological characters. These divisions effectively separated species with a thread-like, feathery labellum (''Plumatichilos''), and those with downward-curved lateral sepals (''Oligochaetochilus'') from the remaining ''Pterostylis'' species. The following year, David Jones and Mark Clements proposed further separating ''Pterostylis'' into sixteen genera based on a combination of molecular and morphological characters: the genera ''Bunochilus'', ''Crangonorchis'', ''Diplodium'', ''Eremorchis'', ''Hymenochilus'', ''Linguella'', ''Oligochaetochilus'', ''Petrorchis'', ''Pharochilum'', ''Plumatichilos'', ''Ranorchis'', ''Speculantha'', ''Stamnorchis'', ''Taurantha'' and ''Urochilus''. These changes were not adopted widely by Australian herbaria as the data appeared to support a monophyletic group. In 2010, further molecular work reinstated ''Pterostylis'' as a monophyletic group with two subgenera distinguishing species with lateral sepals that are bent sharply downwards ("deflexed") from those with the lateral sepals bent backwards ("recurved").

The genus name (''Pterostylis'') is derived from the Greek words ''pteron'' meaning 'wing' and ''stylos'' meaning 'pillar' or 'post', but in orchids, generally applies to the column.

The closest relative of ''Pterostylis'' is ''Achlydosa'', restricted to New Caledonia and the sole other genus of subtribe Pterostylidinae.

Distribution and habitat

Orchids in the genus ''Pterostylis'' occur mostly in Australia but are also found in New Zealand, including some of its smaller islands such as Chatham Island, and in New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland and on Seram Island in Indonesia. In Australia they are found in all states and Lord Howe Island, but not in the Northern Territory. They grow in a wide range of habitats, especially in temperate zones and are found in grassland, heath, scrub, woodland and forest, including rainforest. They sometimes grow in semi-arid areas but usually near rocks or crevices where there is run-off during rain. In tropical regions they tend to grow at higher altitudes where temperatures are lower. Most have periods of dormancy which coincide with climatic extremes, surviving as small tubers until favourable conditions return.

Ecology

Most greenhoods are pollinated by insects, nearly always by tiny flies from the family Mycetophilidae or by mosquitoes (Family Culicidae). The insect approaches the flower from downwind, as if attracted by a scent and usually lands on the galea. (In the case of ''Pterostylis sanguinea'', the pollinator is a male fungus gnat of the genus ''Mycomya'' which attempts to copulate with the labellum, which produces the chemical attractant.) The insect then enters the flower and either because it has passed a balance point, or because it has touched a sensitive part of the labellum, the labellum moves forward trapping the insect between the column wings, the labellum and other flower parts. Observation of the insect's reaction to entrapment is difficult to observe, but in its struggle to escape, it either deposits pollinia from a previously visited flower or contacts the sticky viscidium and pollinia are attached, then carried to another flower. The features of an actively-moving labellum, along with the galea, are unique to these orchids.

Uses

Use in horticulture

Greenhoods are easily grown in pots and usually flower well, filling the pot in a few years. ''Pterostylis curta'' and '' P. nutans'' can be grown in commercial orchid potting mix with coarse gravel added. A bushhouse or cool glasshouse are needed for some species. Greenhoods need regular watering in the growing seaseon but must be kept dry when dormant.

Species

* ''Pterostylis abrupta'' D.L.Jones – tablelands greenhood
* ''Pterostylis aciculiformis'' (Nicholls) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – needle-point rustyhood, slender ruddyhood
* ''Pterostylis acuminata'' R.Br. – sharp greenhood, pointed greenhood
* ''Pterostylis aenigma'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – enigmatic greenhood
* ''Pterostylis aestiva'' D.L.Jones – long-tongued summer greenhood
* ''Pterostylis agathicola'' D.L.Jones, Molloy & M.A.Clem. – kauri greenhood ( N.Z.)
* '' Pterostylis agrestis'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh.
* ''Pterostylis alata'' (Labill.) Rchb.f. – striped greenhood
* ''Pterostylis allantoidea'' R.S.Rogers – shy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis alobula'' (Hatch) L.B.Moore - winter greenhood (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis alpina'' R.S.Rogers – mountain greenhood
* ''Pterostylis alveata'' Garnet – coastal greenhood
* ''Pterostylis amabilis'' (D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel.) D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis anaclasta'' (D.L.Jones) Janes & Duretto
* ''Pterostylis anatona'' D.L.Jones – Eungella greenhood
* '' Pterostylis aneba'' D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis angusta'' A.S.George – narrow-hooded shell orchid, narrow shell orchid
* ''Pterostylis antennifera'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis aphylla'' Lindl. – leafless greenhood
* ''Pterostylis aquilonia'' D.L.Jones & B.Gray – northern cobra greenhood
* ''Pterostylis arenicola'' M.A.Clem. & J.Stewart – sandhill rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis areolata'' Petrie (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis arfakensis'' (J.J.Sm.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. ( West Papua)
* ''Pterostylis aspera'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – rough shell orchid
* ''Pterostylis atrans'' D.L.Jones – dark-tip greenhood, blunt-tongue greenhood
* ''Pterostylis atriola'' D.L.Jones – Snug greenhood
* ''Pterostylis atrosanguinea'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French
* ''Pterostylis auriculata'' Colenso (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis australis'' Hook.f. – southern greenhood (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis banksii'' A.Cunn. (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis baptistii'' Fitzg. – king greenhood
* ''Pterostylis barbata'' Lindl. – western bearded greenhood, bird orchid
* ''Pterostylis barringtonensis'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – Barrington leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis basaltica'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – basalt rustyhood, basalt greenhood
* ''Pterostylis bicolor'' M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – black-tip greenhood
* ''Pterostylis bicornis'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – horned greenhood
* ''Pterostylis biseta'' Blackmore & Clemesha – bristled rustyhood
* '' Pterostylis boormanii'' Rupp – sikh's whiskers, baggy britches, or Boorroans green-hood
* ''Pterostylis borealis'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis brevichila'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – dwarf shell orchid
* ''Pterostylis brumalis'' L.B.Moore – kauri greenhood (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis brunneola'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – giant snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis bryophila'' D.L.Jones – Hindmarsh Valley greenhood
* ''Pterostylis bureaviana'' Schltr. (New Caledonia)
* ''Pterostylis calceolus'' M.A.Clem. – Bungonia rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis cardiostigma'' D.Cooper (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis caulescens'' L.O.Williams ( New Guinea)
* ''Pterostylis cernua'' D.L.Jones, Molloy & M.A.Clem. – Westland greenhood (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis chaetophora'' M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – Taree rustyhood, tall rusthood or ruddy hood
* ''Pterostylis cheraphila'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – floodplain rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis chlorogramma'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – green-striped leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis chocolatina'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – chocolate-lip leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis ciliata'' M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – hairy rufous greenhood, tall rusthood or hairy rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis clavigera'' Fitzg. – hairy snail orchid
* '' Pterostylis clivicola'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh.
* ''Pterostylis clivosa'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis cobarensis'' M.A.Clem. – inland rustyhood, Cobar rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis coccina'' Fitzg. – scarlet greenhood
* ''Pterostylis collina'' (Rupp) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – shiny bull orchid
* ''Pterostylis commutata'' D.L.Jones – midland rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis concava'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – pouched greenhood, cupped banded greenhood
* ''Pterostylis concinna'' R.Br. – trim greenhood
* ''Pterostylis conferta'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – leprechaun greenhood, basalt midget greenhood
* ''Pterostylis corpulenta'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis crassa'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – coarse leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis crassicaulis'' (D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) G.N.Backh. – alpine swan greenhood
* ''Pterostylis crassichila'' D.L.Jones – plump northern greenhood
* ''Pterostylis crebra'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis crebriflora'' (D.L.Jones & C.J.French) D.L.Jones & C.J.French
* ''Pterostylis cucullata'' R.Br. – leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis curta'' R.Br. – blunt greenhood
* ''Pterostylis cycnocephala'' Fitzg. – swan greenhood
* ''Pterostylis daintreana'' F.Muell. ex Benth. – Daintree's greenhood
* ''Pterostylis decurva'' R.S.Rogers – summer greenhood
* ''Pterostylis depauperata'' F.M.Bailey – keeled greenhood
* ''Pterostylis despectans'' (Nicholls) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – lowly rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis dilatata'' A.S.George – robust snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis diminuta'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – small-flowered leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis divaricata'' (D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel.) L.M.Copel. & D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis dolichochila'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – long-tongued shell orchid
* ''Pterostylis dubia'' R.Br. – blue-tongued greenhood
* ''Pterostylis echinulata'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – hairy-leafed snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis elegans'' D.L.Jones – elegant greenhood
* ''Pterostylis elegantissima'' (D.L.Jones & C.J.French) D.L.Jones – elegant rufous greenhood
* ''Pterostylis erecta'' T.E.Hunt - upright maroonhood
* ''Pterostylis eremaea'' (D.L.Jones & C.J.French) D.L.Jones & C.J.French
* '' Pterostylis erubescens'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – red sepaled snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis erythroconcha'' M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – red shell orchid
* '' Pterostylis exalla'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh.
* ''Pterostylis excelsa'' M.A.Clem. – tall rustyhood, dry land green-hood
* '' Pterostylis exquisita'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis exserta'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones – exserted rufous greenhood
* '' Pterostylis extranea'' (D.L.Jones) Janes & Duretto
* ''Pterostylis falcata'' R.S.Rogers – sickle greenhood
* ''Pterostylis ferruginea'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – Bangham rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis fischii'' Nicholls – Fisch's greenhood
* ''Pterostylis flavovirens'' (D.L.Jones) R.J.Bates – coastal banded greenhood
* ''Pterostylis foliata'' Hook.f. – slender greenhood
* ''Pterostylis frenchii'' (D.L.Jones) A.P.Br. – tuart rufous greenhood
* ''Pterostylis fuliginosa'' (D.L.Jones & C.J.French) D.L.Jones & C.J.French
* ''Pterostylis furcata'' Lindl. – forked greenhood
* ''Pterostylis furva'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones
* '' Pterostylis gibbosa'' R.Br. – Illawarra rustyhood, Illawarra greenhood
* ''Pterostylis glebosa'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – clubbed snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis glyphida'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh.
* ''Pterostylis graminea'' Hook.f. – grass-leaved greenhood (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis grandiflora'' R.Br. – superb greenhood, cobra greenhood
* ''Pterostylis hadra'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis hamata'' Blackmore & Clemesha – southern hooked rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis hamiltonii'' Nicholls – red-veined shell orchid
* ''Pterostylis heberlei'' (D.L.Jones & C.J.French) D.L.Jones & C.J.French
* ''Pterostylis hians'' D.L.Jones – opera house orchid
* ''Pterostylis hildae'' Nicholls – rainforest greenhood
* ''Pterostylis hispidula'' Fitzg. – small nodding greenhood, box greenhood
* ''Pterostylis humilis'' R.S.Rogers (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis incognita'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – Sale greenhood
* ''Pterostylis insectifera'' M.A.Clem. – insect-lipped rufous greenhood, leaden rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis irsoniana'' Hatch (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis irwinii'' D.L.Jones (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis jacksonii'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – southwest granite snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis jonesii'' G.N.Backh. – montane leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis karri'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – karri snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis laxa'' Blackmore – antelope greenhood
* ''Pterostylis lepida'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – Halbury greenhood
* ''Pterostylis leptochila'' M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – Ravensthorpe rufous greenhood, narrow-lipped rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis lineata'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – Blue Mountains leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis lingua'' M.A.Clem. – large-lipped rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis littoralis'' (D.L.Jones) R.J.Bates – coastal leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis loganii'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – Logan's leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis longicurva'' Rupp – long-tongued greenhood
* ''Pterostylis longifolia'' R.Br. – common leafy greenhood, tall greenhood
* ''Pterostylis longipetala'' Rupp – curved greenhood
* ''Pterostylis lortensis'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – Lort River snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis lustra'' D.L.Jones – small sickle greenhood
* ''Pterostylis macilenta'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh.
* ''Pterostylis macrocalymma'' M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – large-hooded rufous greenhood, Murchison rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis macrosceles'' (D.L.Jones & C.J.French) D.L.Jones – slender rufous greenhood
* ''Pterostylis macrosepala'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh.
* ''Pterostylis major'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh.
* ''Pterostylis maxima'' M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – large rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis melagramma'' D.L.Jones – black-stripe leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis metcalfei'' D.L.Jones – Metcalfe's greenhood, large kinked greenhood or Ebor greenhood
* ''Pterostylis microglossa'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – Kalbarri shell orchid
* '' Pterostylis micromega'' Hook.f. – swamp greenhood (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis microphylla'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – small rosette snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis mirabilis'' (D.L.Jones) R.J.Bates – nodding rufous-hood
* ''Pterostylis mitchellii'' Lindl. – Mitchell's rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis montana'' Hatch (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis monticola'' D.L.Jones – large mountain greenhood
* ''Pterostylis multiflora'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – tall tiny greenhood
* ''Pterostylis mutica'' R.Br. – midget greenhood
* ''Pterostylis mystacina'' (D.L.Jones) Janes & Duretto
* ''Pterostylis nana'' R.Br. – dwarf snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis nichollsiana'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis nigricans'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – dark greenhood
* ''Pterostylis nutans'' R.Br. – nodding greenhood, parrot's beak orchid
* ''Pterostylis oblonga'' D.L.Jones – coastal maroonhood
* ''Pterostylis obtusa'' R.Br. – blunt greenhood
* ''Pterostylis oliveri'' Petrie (N.Z.)
* '' Pterostylis ophioglossa'' R.Br. – snake-tongue greenhood
* ''Pterostylis orbiculata'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French coastal banded greenhood
* ''Pterostylis oreophila'' Clemesha – Kiandra greenhood, blue-tongued greenhood
* ''Pterostylis ovata'' M.A.Clem. – Gawler Range rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis paludosa'' D.L.Jones, Molloy & M.A.Clem. – swamp greenhood
* ''Pterostylis papuana'' Rolfe
* ''Pterostylis parca'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – Lithgow leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis parva'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – fawn snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis parviflora'' R.Br. - tiny greenhood
* ''Pterostylis patens'' Colenso (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis pearsonii'' (D.L.Jones) Janes & Duretto
* ''Pterostylis pedina'' (D.L.Jones) Janes & Duretto
* ''Pterostylis pedoglossa'' Fitzg. – prawn greenhood
* ''Pterostylis pedunculata'' R.Br. – upright maroonhood
* ''Pterostylis perculta'' (D.L.Jones & C.J.French) D.L.Jones – ruddy hood
* ''Pterostylis petrosa'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Riverina rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis picta'' M.A.Clem. – painted rufous greenhood, painted rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis planulata'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – flat rustyhood
* '' Pterostylis platypetala'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – broad petaled snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis plumosa'' Cady - bearded greenhood, plumed greenhood
* ''Pterostylis porrecta'' D.L.Jones, Molloy & M.A.Clem. (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis praetermissa'' M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – Mount Kaputar rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis prasina'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – mallee leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis pratensis'' D.L.Jones – Liawenee greenhood
* ''Pterostylis procera'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – short-lipped greenhood
* '' Pterostylis psammophila'' (D.L.Jones) R.J.Bates – two-bristle greenhood
* ''Pterostylis puberula'' Hook.f. – dwarf greenhood, snail greenhood (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis pulchella'' Messmer – waterfall greenhood, escarpment greenhood or pretty greenhood
* ''Pterostylis pusilla'' R.S.Rogers – tiny rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis pyramidalis'' Lindl. - tall snail orchid, leafy snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis recurva'' Benth. – jug orchid, recurved shell orchid, antelope orchid or bull orchid
* ''Pterostylis reflexa'' R.Br. – dainty greenhood
* ''Pterostylis revoluta'' R.Br. – autumn greenhood
* ''Pterostylis riparia'' D.L.Jones – streamside greenhood
* ''Pterostylis robusta'' R.S.Rogers – sharp-leaf greenhood
* ''Pterostylis roensis'' M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – painted rufous greenhood, dark rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis rogersii'' E.Coleman – curled-tongue shell orchid
* ''Pterostylis rubenachii'' D.L.Jones – Arthur River greenhood
* ''Pterostylis rubescens'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – blushing tiny greenhood
* ''Pterostylis rubiginosa'' (D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel.) L.M.Copel. & D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis rufa'' R.Br. - red rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis russellii'' T.E.Hunt – Russell's greenhood
* ''Pterostylis sanguinea'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – red-banded greenhood, dark-banded greenhood
* ''Pterostylis sargentii'' C.R.P.Andrews – frog greenhood
* ''Pterostylis saxicola'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Sydney plains rustyhood, Sydney plains greenhood
* ''Pterostylis scabra'' Lindl. – green-veined shell orchid
* ''Pterostylis scabrida'' Lindl. – rough greenhood
* ''Pterostylis scapula'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis scitula'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – elegant snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis scoliosa'' D.L.Jones – small kinked greenhood
* ''Pterostylis setifera'' M.A.Clem. – bristly rustyhood, sikh's whiskers,
* ''Pterostylis silvicultrix'' (F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Chatham Island greenhood, tutukiwi (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis sinuata'' (D.L.Jones) Janes & Duretto – Northampton midget greenhood, western swan greenhood
* ''Pterostylis smaragdyna'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – emerald-lip leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis spathulata'' M.A.Clem. – spoon-lipped rufous greenhood, Moora rustyhood
* ''Pterostylis spissa'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – cygnet greenhood
* ''Pterostylis splendens'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. (New Caledonia)
* ''Pterostylis squamata'' R.Br. – southern rustyhood, ruddyhood
* ''Pterostylis stenochila'' D.L.Jones – narrow-lip leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis stenosepala'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – narrow-sepalled leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis striata'' Fitzg. – mainland striped greenhood
* ''Pterostylis stricta'' Clemesha & B.Gray – northern greenhood
* ''Pterostylis subtilis'' D.L.Jones – thin mountain greenhood
* ''Pterostylis tanypoda'' D.L.Jones, Molloy & M.A.Clem. – swan greenhood (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis tasmanica'' D.L.Jones – small bearded greenhood
* ''Pterostylis taurus'' M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones – little bull orchid
* ''Pterostylis tenuicauda'' Kraenzl. (New Caledonia)
* ''Pterostylis tenuis'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – smooth leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis tenuissima'' Nicholls – swamp greenhood
* ''Pterostylis thulia'' (D.L.Jones) Janes & Duretto
* ''Pterostylis timorensis'' Schuit. & J.J.Verm. (East Timor)
* ''Pterostylis timothyi'' (D.L.Jones) Janes & Duretto – brittle snail orchid, fawn snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis torquata'' D.L.Jones – collared greenhood
* ''Pterostylis tristis'' Colenso – midget greenhood (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis trullifolia'' Hook.f. – trowel-leaved greenhood (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis tryphera'' (D.L.Jones & C.J.French) D.L.Jones & C.J.French
* ''Pterostylis truncata'' Fitzg. – brittle greenhood, little dumpies
* ''Pterostylis tunstallii'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Tunstall's greenhood, granite greenhood
* ''Pterostylis turfosa'' Endl. in J.G.C.Lehmann – bearded bird orchid
* ''Pterostylis uliginosa'' D.L.Jones – marsh greenhood
* ''Pterostylis umbrina'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – broad-sepaled leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis venosa'' Colenso (N.Z.)
* ''Pterostylis ventricosa'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh.
* ''Pterostylis vernalis'' (D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. – spring tiny greenhood
* ''Pterostylis vescula'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones
* '' Pterostylis virens'' (D.L.Jones & C.J.French) D.L.Jones & C.J.French
* ''Pterostylis viriosa'' (D.L.Jones) R.J.Bates – Adelaide Hills banded greenhood
* ''Pterostylis vitrea'' (D.L.Jones) Bostock – glassy leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis vittata'' Lindl. – banded greenhood, green-banded greenhood
* ''Pterostylis wapstrarum'' D.L.Jones – fleshy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis williamsonii'' D.L.Jones – brown-lip leafy greenhood
* ''Pterostylis woollsii'' Fitzg. – long-tailed greenhood
* ''Pterostylis xerampelina'' (D.L.Jones & C.J.French) D.L.Jones & C.J.French
* ''Pterostylis xerophila'' M.A.Clem. – desert rustyhood, desert greenhood
* ''Pterostylis ziegeleri'' D.L.Jones – Cape Portland greenhood

Hybrid greenhoods

* ''Pterostylis × aenigma'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
* ''Pterostylis × conoglossa'' Upton
* ''Pterostylis × furcillata'' Rupp
* ''Pterostylis × ingens'' (Rupp) D.L.Jones
* ''Pterostylis × toveyana'' Ewart & Sharman

Undescribed species

The following is a list of some of the undescribed species of ''Pterostylis'':

* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''alata'' (New England)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''alveata'' (Mt Duval)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''alveata'' (New England Escarpments)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''biseta'' (Striped)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''cycnocephala'' (Alpine)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''dolichochila'' (Portland)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''hamata'' (Northern Tablelands)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''longifolia'' (Carabost)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''longifolia'' (Canberra)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''longifolia'' (Mt Hamilton)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''mitchellii'' (Pilliga Scrub)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''mutica'' (Basalt Plains)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''parviflora'' (Brindabellas)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''parviflora'' (Dwarf Crowded)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''parviflora'' (Eastern Melbourne)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''parviflora'' (Large Red-brown)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''parviflora'' (Linear Sepals)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''parviflora'' (Sandstone Heath)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''parviflora'' (Spring)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''plumosa'' (Anglesea)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''plumosa'' (Sydney)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''praetermissa'' (Coonabarabran)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''praetermissa'' (Torrington)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''reflexa'' (Tablelands)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''revoluta'' (Inland)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''revoluta'' (Northern Tablelands)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''smaragdyna'' (Inland)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. aff. ''tunstallii'' (Blue Mountains)
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'Cape Arid' – eastern swamp snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'Cape Le Grande' – southern thick-sepaled snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'cauline leaves' – Murdoch snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'Chudalup' – Mt Chudalup snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'coastal clubbed sepals' – coastal short-eared snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'coastal snail' – coastal snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'crinkled leaf' – slender snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'crinkled' – fine-sepaled snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'Helena River' – limestone snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'inland' – hairy-stemmed snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'late flowering' – late flowering snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'long sepals' – long sepaled snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'crinkled' – eastern granite snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'northern thick sepals' – northern thick-sepaled snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'Ravensthorpe' – Ravensthorpe snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'robust' – Caldyanup snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'short sepals' – short-eared snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'skinny' – skinny snail orchid
* ''Pterostylis'' sp. 'southern granites' – granite loving snail orchid

Image:Pterostylis curta 190303.jpg, ''Pterostylis curta''
Image:Pterostylis grandiflora (Illustrationes Florae Novae Hollandiae plate 2).jpg, ''Pterostylis grandiflora''
Image:Pterostylis melagramma.jpg, ''Pterostylis melagramma''
Image:Pterostylis stenochila setting seeds.jpg, ''Pterostylis stenochila''
setting seeds
Image:Pterostylis Bluff LC0254.jpg, ''Pterostylis'' "Bluff" (unnamed species from N.Z.)
Image:Pterostylis recurva Gnangarra-32.jpg, ''Pterostylis recurva''
Jug orchid
Image:Pterostylis sanguinea Gnangarra-17.jpg, ''Pterostylis sanguinea''
Dark banded greenhood
Image:Pterostylis vittata Gnangarra -31.jpg, ''Pterostylis vittata''
Banded greenhood

References

External links

Video showing pollination of ''Pterostylis sanguinea''.

{{Taxonbar, from=Q134246

Cranichideae genera
Orchids of Australia