is a common greenhood and NZ’s largest orchid flower, being 75mm across the filamentous lateral sepals. Several long leaves, some overtopping the flower. Prefers well lit shade in damp native forest especially under mamaku, flowering from October in the north to December in Southland, also in the Chathams. The irritable labellum, typical of Pterostylis, flicks back after any visiting insect crawls down it, forcing the insect to crawl out through the column, wings rubbing first against the stigma, then the pollinia, thus preventing selfing and promoting cross pollination. The labellum resets after say 20 minutes ready for the next visitor. The curved-up tip of the dorsal sepal is a trademark.