Plant
To 15cm tall, usually biennial, forming large colonies. First year rosette leaves often trowel-shaped and flat rarely rumpled, second year adult leaves narrow and short, more or less evenly spaced up the stem.
Flowers
To 20mm tall; hood tip horizontal; labellum arched, tapering to inverted U at tip; lateral sepals diverging to form a flat V sinus with the edge curled inwards like a mouth missing teeth.
Flowering
May - October but peak in mid winter.
Habitat
Lowland scrub and well lit forest. Northland to Banks Peninsula.
Conservation
Widespread, often numerous, not threatened.
Notes
Plant may sometimes have both rosette leaves, transitional leaves and a flower. often with P. trullifolia, P. brumalis or Acianthus sinclairii. The flower of P. alobula is usually broader than that of P. trullifolia.
Key features
Presence of rosette and flowering stages, very small flower, lateral sepals incurved at junction to give toothless look.
