Scientific Name: Orthoceras strictum

Common Name: horned orchid

Family Classification (Clade): Monocots

Family: Orchidaceae

Threatened Species Status: Rare

Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.

Form Description: Plant with rigid flowering stem and grass like leaves.

Height (m): 0.3 – 0.6

Flowers: Green-grey or yellow-brown orchid with dark markings. Upper sepal forms a hood.

Fruit: Papery capsule

Municipality
Break O’DayBurnieDorsetFlindersGeorge TownGlamorgan-Spring BayKing IslandTasmanWaratah-WynyardWest Coast
Plant Communities
Heath
Habitat Notes

Not common, usually found in wet heaths, often inland e.g. Trial Harbour Road, near Serpentine Quarry, Renison Bell on the west coast.

Site Tolerance

Moist

Soil Tolerance

Nutrient-poor, Poorly-drained, Well-drained

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Specialist Method

Seed Information

Seed Treatment Notes

Orchid seeds are very minute yellow, brown or blackish dust-like particles. Orchid seeds are produced within a capsule that splits at maturity and releases thousands to millions of seeds. Dispersed by wind and water and only germinate following infection of the embryo by a suitable mycorrhizal fungus. Very few seeds become mature plants. For more information see Jones, Wapstra, Tonelli, Harris (1999): The Orchids of Tasmania.