Common Ruddy Hood

Approx. 12cm tall, forming small colonies (pic 4). This orchid is widespread but uncommon around Melbourne. Pic 3 shows the labellum (tongue) recoiled within the hood, during pollination a fungus gnat would land on the labellum and be catapulted into the pollen at the back of the hood, Pic 1 shows the labellum reset.
Similar species around Melbourne are P. sanguinea which has a distinct mound at the bottom of the labellum and P. aciculiformis which in known from only 1 site in Melbourne and flowers during nov/dec.