Citation: R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 317 (1810).

Synonymy: O. strictum R. Br. forma viride Hatch Trans. R. Soc. N.Z. 2:188 (1963).

Common name: Horned orchid.

Description:
A rigid species, 15-45 cm high; leaves 2-5, acute, channelled, sheathing at the base; stem bracts 1, sometimes 2, at or about the middle, with a long sheathing base and a subulate lamina.

Flowers erect, maroon, greenish-brown or almost green, perfumed or not, 2-7, on rather short pedicels; dorsal sepal with an acute apex, c. 11 mm long; lateral sepals almost terete, at maturity laterally spreading on each side of the hood, c. 2.7 cm long; petals hidden by the dorsal sepal, c. 5 mm long, tips rather blunt and usually notched; labellum sessile, c. 10 x c. 7 mm, 3-lobed; the lateral lobes broad, erect, not more than half the total length, margins entire; middle lobe somewhat elliptical, with entire margins; lamina smooth except for a large pyramidal callus at the base; column c. 4 mm long; anther without a point, much incurved; lateral appendages of the column variable in length but usually the same height as the rostellum, selfpollinated.

Published illustration: Cady & Rotherham (1970) Australian native orchids in colour, pl. 13; Woolcock (1984) Australian terrestrial orchids, pl. 36B.

Distribution:  Occurs in small to quite extensive populations in open forest, grassland or peaty bogs in areas of greater than 300 mm mean annual rainfall. S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.   New Zealand and New Caledonia. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Nov. — Jan.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available