Kauri Greenhood

Pterostylis agathicola is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and when not flowering, a rosette of two or three dark green, linear to lance-shaped leaves. Each leaf is 30–60 mm (1–2 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. Flowering plants have a single flower 24–28 mm (0.9–1 in) long borne on a spike 100–350 mm (4–10 in) high with three or four spreading stem leaves. The flowers are translucent white with green stripes and brownish tips. The dorsal sepal and petals are fused, forming a hood or "galea" over the column. The dorsal sepal is much longer than the petals and curves forward with a long, tapering tip. The lateral sepals are erect leaving a wide gap between them and the galea, and there is a deep narrow notch in the centre of the sinus between their bases. The labellum is 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide, curved, dark green to brownish, twist prominently to the right and protrudes above the sinus. Flowering occurs between July and October.

Kauri greenhood only grows in kauri forest, often in leaf litter close to large trees. It is found on the North Island between Te Paki Recreation Reserve, the Te Kauri Scenic Reserve and the Kaimai Range.