Short-eared Snail Orchid or Green Hood

Small terrestrial orchid to 10cm high, rosette of leaves at base. Pterostylis is based on the Greek words meaning winged column (pteron - a wing, stylis - a column). In a number of species, the flower has a hinged lip that swings backwards when touched by an insect, forming a tube with the column and wings. The trapped insect is then forced to crawl out of the tube, removing the pollinia in the process. (See photo 2, fly crawling out of the flower)