Kingdom Plantae Family Orchidaceae Scientific name Orthoceras strictum | Order Asparagales Genus Orthoceras Rank Species | |
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Similar Cryptostylis subulata, Dipodium roseum, Thelymitra pauciflora, Microtis, Cyrtostylis reniformis | ||
Orthoceras strictum, commonly known as the bird's-mouth orchid or horned orchid, is a small upright plant found in eastern and southern Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and New Guinea. It is growing from 20 to 60 cm tall. It is often found in grassy moist areas, forming small maroon coloured flowers in spring and summer. A yellow stripe in the lower part of the flower helps with identification.
The generic name Orthoceras is derived from the Ancient Greek terms “upright horn”, which alludes to the upright lateral sepals. sticta refers to the erect form of the plant.
The original specimen was collected at Sydney in December 1802. And in 1810, this species appeared in scientific literature, in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown.