Pterostylis metcalfei

Pterostylis metcalfei has a rosette of 3 to 5 leaves, each leaf 7–30 mm (0.3–1 in) long, 7–20 mm (0.3–0.8 in) wide, dark green and flat.[3][4]

The flower stem is 10–30 cm (4–10 in)1 long and bears a single flower 23–28 mm (0.9–1 in) long and 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) wide and shiny, greenish-white with darker green stripes. The dorsal sepal is erect at its base but then arches forward, forming a hood over the labellum and has a threadlike tip, 7–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long. The labellum is blunt, sharply kinked in the middle and is 13.5–17 mm (0.53–0.67 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. Flowering occurs from March to May.[3][4]

Front view of Pterostylis metcalfei

Pterostylis metcalfei was first formally described by David L. Jones in 1997 from a specimen collected by Peter Metcalfe on Doughboy Mountain, about 10 km (6 mi) south of Wongwibindi station, on the road to Wollomombi, on 8 May 1994. The description was published in The Orchadian.[1] In 2002, Jones and Clements transferred the species to the genus Diplodium[2][5] but the move has not been accepted by the National Herbarium of New South Wales[6] nor by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.[7] The specific epithet (metcalfei) honours the collector of the type specimen, Peter Metcalfe.

The species is endemic to the New England Tablelands (biogeographic region) at altitudes of 1,000 to 1,350 m (3,000 to 4,000 ft). It is found on ridges and slopes with well drained soil derived from granite and basalt, growing among grass and shrubs.[3] It is known from only three locations, only one of which is in a national park, so that it is threatened by cattle grazing and trampling.[8]

The Scientific Committee of the Office of Environment and Heritage, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has listed P. metcalfei as an Endangered Species on Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act.[8]