Metcalfe's Greenhood - profile

Indicative distribution

Loading map...

Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Pterostylis metcalfei

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 05 Oct 2001

Profile last updated: 02 Nov 2023

Description

Metcalfe’s Greenhood is a small autumn-flowering ground orchid with a single helmet-shaped flower on a 35 cm long stem. It has up to five blue-green leaves in a rosette around the plant base, about 20 mm long and 16 mm wide. The flower is shiny white with bright green stripes. The hood of the flower is up to 24 mm long, strongly upright at the base and then arching forward.

Distribution

Known only from three locations on the New England Tablelands: north of Wollomombi at Wongwibinda, near Hernani west of Dorrigo and at Ebor.

Habitat and ecology

Grows in gently sloping, moist depressions or gullies in tall eucalypt forest, often with a shrubby or Snowgrass understorey, on rich loam soils on basalt or granite. Climate is cool and wet.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

New England Tablelands

Threats

Grazing by domestic stock.
Clearing of habitat for agriculture.
Trampling of plants by bushwalkers.
invasive grasses out competing native ground cover including orchids
Illegal plant removal by orchid collectors.
Invasion and competition from various woody and herbaceous weed species (including blackberry, Leucanthemum daisies and Yorkshire fog) competing for resources and encroaching on the species habitat.
Lack of knowledge of threat management

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Support local Landcare groups.
Prepare management action plans for known sites
Undertake targeted weed control
Stay on established walking tracks when national parks.
Enjoy viewing and photographing native orchids but leave them in the wild.
Protect known populations and habitat areas from grazing stock.
Protect areas of grassy and shrubby tall eucalypt forest from clearing and fragmentation.
Report any new records of Metcalf’s Greenhood to the OEH

Information sources

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Threatened Species of the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes of NSW. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
NSW Scientific Committee (2001) Pterostylis metcalfei (a terrestrial orchid) - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.