About Pterostylis turfosa Endl.
Pterostylis turfosa Endl. is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber. This species has between 10 and 18 dark green leaves, crowded around the base of its stem and extending upward. Individual leaves measure 10 to 25 millimetres (0.4 to 1 inch) long and 3 to 7 millimetres (0.1 to 0.3 inches) wide. Flowering plants produce a single translucent green flower marked with darker green lines, carried on a flowering stem that is 100 to 250 millimetres (4 to 10 inches) high. The flower itself measures 45 to 55 millimetres (1.8 to 2.2 inches) long and 6 to 7 millimetres (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. The dorsal sepal and petals are fused to form a hood, also called a "galea", that covers the column, and the dorsal sepal has a curved point 25 to 35 millimetres (0.98 to 1.4 inches) long. The lateral sepals point downward and are joined near their bases to form a fleshy pad, with tapering tips that are 40 to 50 millimetres (1.6 to 2.0 inches) long and run parallel to one another. The labellum is 25 to 30 millimetres (0.98 to 1.2 inches) long, thread-like, and covered in a beard of yellow hairs 3 to 7 millimetres (0.1 to 0.3 inches) long, ending in a thin, light brown knob. Flowering occurs from September to October. Commonly called the bearded bird orchid, it grows in a wide range of habitats, ranging from shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops to forest, and occurs mostly near the coast. Its distribution spans between Bunbury and East Mount Barren in Australia.
