Orthoceras strictum
R.Br. Horned OrchidFlowering plant 33–80 cm tall, rigid. Leaves 2–5, erect, grass-like, acute and channelled, sheathing at base, 5–20 cm long. Stem bracts 1–3, with long sheathing base, lamina narrow and tapering. Flowers maroon, greenish-brown or almost green, sometimes perfumed, 2–7, each subtended and exceeded by a lanceolate, long-pointed bract which, at least initially, encloses the ovary; pedicel short, thick; dorsal sepal more or less ovate, hooded over column, 10–15 mm long; lateral sepals laterally spreading, linear, subterete, 15–28 mm long; petals obscured by dorsal sepal, oblong, c. 5 mm long, tips bluntish and often notched. Labellum sessile, c. 10 mm long, prominently 3-lobed; lateral lobes broad, erect, not more than half the total length; mid-lobe elliptic to slightly ovate, acute to obtuse; lamina smooth except for large pyramidal callus at base. Column wings variable in length. Flowers Nov.–Feb.
LoM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz. Also SA, Tas. New Zealand, New Caledonia. Uncommon but widespread orchid, occurring in a range of environments including mallee scrub, heaths, open grassy forests and riparian shrublands.
A variant, known from near Anglesea, differs in having the floral bract not or barely exceeding the ovary at anthesis and the labellum midlobe with a more rounded apex. Further research is needed to understand the taxonomic significance, if any, of these features.
Entwisle, T.J. (1994). Orchidaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 740–901. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
