About Pterostylis plumosa Cady
Pterostylis plumosa is a perennial herb that grows from round tubers, forming small colonies, and reaches a height of 12–20 centimetres (5–8 in). It has between 5 and 20 fleshy, lance-shaped pale green leaves that are crowded around the base of the stem and extend upward. The leaves measure 10–30 millimetres (0.4–1 in) long and 5–15 millimetres (0.2–0.6 in) wide. Each plant produces a single flower, roughly 30 millimetres (1 in) long, that is erect and translucent with fine dark green lines and reticulations. The labellum is long and thin, about 1.5 millimetres (0.06 in) wide, covered in a beard of golden-yellow hairs, and ends in a red-brown knob. The dorsal sepal, located at the back of the flower, tapers to a thin point that is 4 millimetres (0.2 in) long. Flowers bloom from August to November.
This species, commonly called the bearded greenhood, is distributed in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, and is thought to also occur in New Zealand. It is an uncommon species that grows in heathy woodland in semi shade.
