Pterostylis aspera complex (Shell orchids)

Flowering – May to August

There are 7 Western Australian species

• Rosette leaves are present on non-flowering plants only.
• Flowering plants have stem leaves.
• Plants are found in colonies.
• Mostly winter flowering

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Green-veined shell orchid (Pterostylis scabra)

Curled-tongue shell orchid (Pterostylis rogersii) 02/07/2017

Dwarf shell orchid (Pterostylis brevichila) 01/07/2017

Red-veined shell orchid (Pterostylis hamiltonii) 12/08/2018

Pterostylis nana complex (Snail orchids)

Flowering – May to November

There are 34 recognised Western Australian species

• Flowering and non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves (Exception – Robust snail orchid).
• Labellum is not visible (Exception – Shy greenhood).
• Narrow, thickened or clubbed lateral sepals.
• Flowers are generally much smaller than the similar Shell orchids.

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Shy greenhood (Pterostylis allantoidea)

Robust snail orchid (Pterostylis dilatata) 12/08/2018

Slender snail orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘crinkled leaf’) 29/07/2015 (Pterostylis crispula)

Hairy-stemmed snail orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘inland’) 04/07/2015 (Pterostylis setulosa)

Eastern granite snail orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘miniature’) 09/07/2017

Skinny snail orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘skinny’) 29/07/2015

Fawn snail orchid (Pterostylis parva)

Lort river snail orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘south-coast clubbed sepals’) 02/07/2017

Red-sepaled snail orchid (Pterostylis erubescens)

Ravensthorpe snail orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘Ravensthorpe’)

Karri snail orchid (Pterostylis karri)

Coastal snail orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘coastal snail’)

Murdoch snail orchid (Pterostylis ectypha) 19/08/2020

Southern thick-sepaled snail orchid (Pterostylis meridianalis)

Brittle snail orchid (Pterostylis timothyi)

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Pterostylis rufa complex (Rufous greenhoods)

Flowering – August to December

There are 23 Western Australian species

• Rosette may be withered at time of flowering.
• Narrow ended lateral sepals, joined at the base.
• Mostly spring flowering.
• Multi-flowered inflorescence.

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Midget greenhood (Pterostylis mutica) 20/9/2017

Striped rufous greenhood (Pterostylis sp. ‘striped’) (Pterostylis zebrina)

Insect-lipped rufous greenhood (Pterostylis insectifera)

Ravensthorpe rufous greenhood (Pterostylis leptochila)

Rufous greenhood (Pterostylis roensis)

Elegant rufous greenhood (Pterostylis elegantissma)

Straight-topped rufous greenhood (Pterostylis sp. ‘straight tops’)

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Pterostylis vittata complex (Banded greenhoods)

Flowering – April to October

There are 9 Western Australian species

• Flowering plants lack rosette of leaves.
• Short, broad lateral sepals, joined at the base.
• Green or brown, white banded flowers.
• Multi-flowered inflorescence.

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Mallee banded greenhood (Pterostylis arbuscula) 12/08/2018

Crowded banded greenhood (Pterostylis atrosanguinea) 25/08/2020

Cupped banded greenhood (Pterostylis concava) 22/08/2020

Small banded greenhood (Pterostylis orbiculata) 25/08/2020

Dark banded greenhood (Pterostylis sanguinea) 25/07/2015

Frog greenhood (Pterostylis sargentii) 20/09/2017

Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata) 09/06/2018

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Pterostylis barbata complex (Bird orchids)

Flowering – July to November

There are 14 Western Australian species

• No flattened rosette of leaves.
• Feather-like, irritable labellum.
• Long narrow lateral sepals, joined at the base.
• Numerous stem leaves.

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Bird orchid (Pterostylis barbata)

Dwarf bird orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘dwarf’) 20/09/2017 (Pterostylis galgula)

Bearded bird orchid (Pterostylis turfosa)

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Pterostylis recurva

Flowering – August to October

This orchid does not fit into the other Pterostylis complexes

• Narrow ended, prominently recurved lateral sepals.
• Flowering plants lack a rosette of leaves.
• Numerous stem leaves, with a small dark-coloured, almost circular leaf near the base

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Jug orchid (Pterostylis recurva) 19/9/2017