This month we are featuring a rare orchid which we have discovered in a new site in the district. The Large Pointed Greenhood, Pterostylis x ingens, is a natural hybrid between Nodding Greenhood, P. nutans, and Sickle Greenhood, P. falcata, and is usually found near Nodding Greenhoods. Somewhere nearby should be the elusive Sickle Greenhoods.
Sickle Greenhood
A Sickle Greenhood has a large upright hood; the Nodding Greenhoods have the familiar nodding flowers. The lateral sepals of the Sickle Greenhood stand up above the hood rather than pointing downwards as in the Nodding Greenhood. This feature is present in the hybrid species. So, when you see a colony of Nodding Greenhoods look carefully at the flowers to see if the sepals of some of the flowers are standing tall above the hood, but be aware the lateral sepals of Nodding Greenhoods tend to point upwards as the flower fades. The hybrid specimen may be taller and bear slightly larger flowers.
Margaret MacDonald and Alison Watson
