Orthoceras strictum
birds mouth orchid
south-eastern Australia and New Zealand
Overview
Orthoceras strictum is a terrestrial orchid that grows from an underground tuber and sends up a slender, upright stem 6-24 inches (15-60 cm) tall. Two to five narrow, grass-like leaves rise from the base, up to 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) long. The stem carries two to ten green, brown, and blackish flowers that sit close to the stem, each with two stiff, upward- or outward-pointing lateral sepals that look like horns or an open beak, giving the bird's mouth name. Each flower is about 0.6-0.8 inch (15-20 mm) including the long sepals. It flowers through late spring and summer and then dies back to its tuber for the dry months. It grows in sandy or peaty soils of heath, open woodland, and coastal flats across south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. Like other terrestrial orchids it depends on soil mycorrhizal fungi to grow from seed. The dull green and brown flowers blend with the surrounding grass and are easy to walk past. Flowering is often stronger in the season after fire has cleared the ground.
Native Range
Orthoceras strictum is native to south-eastern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, and also occurs in New Zealand. It grows in sandy or peaty soils of heath, open woodland, and coastal flats.Suggested Uses
Orthoceras strictum is grown by native-orchid enthusiasts in deep pots and features in the ground layer of restored heath and sandy woodland. It suits undisturbed native beds where the summer-dormant tuber is not dug or watered.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 2'
Width/Spread2" - 4"
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-9 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Orthoceras strictum grows from a tuber that needs a dry, warm dormancy after the foliage dies back in late summer. It grows in a free-draining sandy or peaty mix kept moist through the cooler growing season and left dry during dormancy. Like other terrestrial orchids it relies on soil mycorrhizal fungi, and seed germination depends on these fungi being present. In cultivation it is grown in deep pots that hold the tuber and drain freely. It grows in full sun to light shade and withstands light frost in USDA zones 9-10. Tubers rot if the mix stays wet while the plant is dormant.Pruning
Pruning does not apply to this terrestrial orchid. The spent flower stem can be removed after seed has shed, and the leaves are left to die back so the tuber can recharge for the next season.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons