Pterostylis Curta Blunt Greenhood

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PLANT Pterostylis curta Blunt Greenhood

AUS SA AMLR Endemism Life History RP, Myponga, Victor Harbor, Anstey Hill, Willunga, Ashbourne, Mount Barker and near Mount Bold - R V - Perennial Reservoir.5

Family ORCHIDACEAE Habitat Forms small to extensive colonies in fertile loams in deeply shaded gullies and along creeks in high rainfall areas.4 Occurs in sclerophyll forest, growing in slightly moist conditions.2

In the AMLR, recorded habitat includes:  Cherry Gardens area, under Eucalyptus viminalis in grassy area, with Pterostylis nutans and P. pedunculata  Onkaparinga River, near bottom of gorge in rocky damp places; Mount Bold (Thomas Gully)  Wotton’s Scrub (Kenneth Stirling CP) (K. Brewer and J. Smith pers. comm.)  Second Valley area on stream bank under heavy canopy of Pinus radiata.7 Photo: © Peter Lang

Within the AMLR the preferred broad vegetation Conservation Significance groups are Grassy woodland and Riparian.5 The AMLR distribution is disjunct, isolated from other extant occurrences within SA. Within the AMLR the Within the AMLR the species’ degree of habitat species’ relative area of occupancy is classified as specialisation is classified as ‘High’.5 ‘Very Restricted’.5

Biology and Ecology Description Flowers from July to October.3,4 Terrestrial orchid; slender, glabrous, 10-20 cm high; leaves on rather long petioles in a radical rosette.4 All known pollinators of the genus Pterostylis are male Flower stem to 30 cm tall. Flower usually single, the insects of the fungus gnat and mosquito family.2 galea about 3 cm high, erect, green with pale brown Pterostylis curta will hybridise with P. pedunculata and tints.3 P. nutans.3,4

Readily distinguished by large blunt flower with Cover/abundance likely to be severely reduced by twisted labellum poking out the front. Sometimes three or more inappropriate fires.6 forms extensive carpets of leaves with up to 50 flowers per square metre.3 Aboriginal Significance

Post-1983 records indicate the AMLR distribution occurs Distribution and Population in Kaurna, Peramangk and Ngarrindjeri Nations.5 Also occurs in QLD, NSW, VIC, TAS and Lord Howe

Island. In SA occurs in FR, NL, SL and SE regions.4 Species of Orchidaceae are recorded as being a Considered rare in SA, but relatively common in traditional food source for Aboriginal people in NSW. eastern Australia.3,4 The small tubers were roasted (Flood 1980).1

Post-1983 AMLR filtered records indicate isolated Threats occurrences at Belair NP, Black Hill CP, north of Little known. Lobethal, east of Inman Valley, and at Second Valley

Forest.5 Approximately half of known distribution occurs within

2 km of confirmed or suspected Phytophthora Pre-1983 AMLR filtered records indicate a sparse but infestations.5 wider distribution including within and west of Belair

Further information: Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Adelaide Region Phone: (61 8) 8336 0901 Fax: (61 8) 8336 0999 http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/  Department for Environment and Heritage FIS 90346 May 2008 Prepared as part of the Regional Recovery Plan for Threatened Species and Ecological Communities of Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia 2009 - 2014

6 Department for Environment and Heritage (2007). Additional current direct threats have been identified Combined Fire Response Database. Unpublished data, and rated for this species. Refer to the main plan extracted September 2007. accompanying these profiles. 7 Department for Environment and Heritage (2007). State Herbarium of South Australia Database. Unpublished data, Regional Distribution extracted October 2007.

Map based on filtered post-1983 records.5 Note, this map does not necessarily represent the actual species’ distribution within the AMLR.

References Note: In some cases original reference sources are not included in this list, however they can be obtained from the reference from which the information has been sourced (the reference cited in superscript).

1 Australian National Botanic Gardens (2007). Aboriginal Plant Use - NSW Southern Tablelands. Available from http://www.anbg.gov.au/apu/index.html (accessed August 2007).

2 Banjorah (2007). Australian Terrestrial Orchids, Other Flora and Fauna. Available from http://www.banjorah.com/ (accessed September 2007).

3 Bates, R. J., ed. (2007). South Australian Native Orchids. Electronic version, August 2007. Native Orchid Society of South Australia.

4 Department for Environment and Heritage Electronic Flora of South Australia species Fact Sheet: Pterostylis curta R.Br. Available from http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/ (accessed September 2007).

5 Department for Environment and Heritage (2007). Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Regional Recovery Pilot Project Database. Unpublished data extracted and edited from BDBSA, SA Herbarium (July 2007) and other sources.