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Pterostylis abrupta D.L.Jones
Family Orchidaceae
Common name: Tablelands Greenhood

Pterostylis abrupta D.L.Jones APNI*

Synonyms: Diplodium abruptum (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. APNI*

Description: Terrestrial herb.

Rosette leaves 2 or 3, ovate, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 10–15 mm wide, margins finely crenulate; petiolate.

Scape to 40 cm high, with 4–6 stem leaves. Flower 3.5–4 cm long, dark green and white with dark red-brown suffusions in the galea. Galea curved forwards in the distal half. Dorsal sepal with a filiform point to 18 mm long. Petal margins flared. Lateral sepals tightly embracing the galea; sinus flat, abruptly protruding when viewed from the side; free points c. 40 mm long, filiform, erect. Labellum oblong to elliptic oblong, obtuse, 15–17 mm long, c. 3 mm wide, dark reddish brown, curved forwards near the apex, the tip just protruding from the sinus in the set position.


Habitat
Photo Lachlan Copeland

Habit
Photo J. R. Hosking

Flower
Photo J. R. Hosking

Flowering: December–April

Distribution and occurrence: Grows on moist grassy slopes and near streams in tall sclerophyll forest of the ranges and tablelands; north from Barrington Tops area.
NSW subdivisions: NT, NWS
Other Australian states: ?Qld
AVH map***

Pterostylis abrupta was previously included within P. decurva but differs by rosette leaves having minutely crenulate margins (not entire), petals and sepals suffused with red-brown (not usually green), and flowers variable in size but larger than in P. decurva. The distributions of P. abrupta and P. decurva overlap, and individuals between Barrington Tops and Werrikimbe NP can be difficult to place. Pterostylis abrupta could also be confused with P. divaricata but differs by having a pronounced 'knee' at the sinus.

Text by D. L. Jones, updated by Matt A.M. Renner (6 Dec 2019)
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)


APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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