About Pterostylis areolata Petrie
Pterostylis areolata is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber. When it is not flowering, it produces one or two egg-shaped leaves that measure 30–90 millimetres (1–4 in) long and 10–25 millimetres (0.4–1 in) wide. Flowering plants typically bear a single relatively large, forward-leaning pale green flower with translucent white stripes, and the flower tips are sometimes orange. This flower grows on a flowering stem 70–250 millimetres (3–10 in) tall, and the stem carries between two and four stem leaves. The dorsal sepal and petals are fused to form a hood or "galea" that covers the column, and the dorsal sepal has a short point at its end. The lateral sepals spread apart from one another and curve toward the back of the galea. The labellum is red, and its colour darkens near the tip. Flowering takes place between October and December. This greenhood orchid grows in tussock grassland, scrub, areas near wetlands, and open forest. It is found on both main islands of New Zealand: it occurs in only a few locations on the North Island, but is widespread across the South Island, especially on the South Island's eastern side.
