Nodding Greenhood

The Nodding Greenhood is a common terrestrial orchid in Eastern Australia

There are about 50 to 60 species of terrestrial ‘greenhood’ orchids that grow in Victoria and the Nodding Greenhood, Pterostylis nutans is probably the most recognisable. They are endemic to eastern Australia and grow in moist forest conditions from the mountains to the coast.

 Nodding Greenhoods have a basal rosette of green leaves and the translucent green flower grows on a stem from 8 to 30 cm tall.

Nodding Greenhoods will sometimes grow in large colonies

They come into flower from May to October depending on the season. During summer their tubers remain dormant. The small tubers are regarded as a nutritious bush food.

Like many orchids, the pollination process is conducted by a very specific insect. Nodding Greenhoods are pollinated by a Fungus Gnat.

The labellum is covered in fine hairs designed to momentarily trap the pollinating insect

Places to see these interesting winter-flowering orchids right now, are Thornell’s Reserve at Longwarry North, Mt Cannibal at Garfield North, Lang Lang, Shady Creek, etc. Even the narrow stretch of remnant bush along McGlone Rd between the Drouin Golf Club and the freeway can often have a small colony of ‘noddings’.