Common name: Tangle Orchid
Plectorrhiza tridentata (Lindl.) Dockrill APNI* 
Description: Pendent epiphyte, with 1 or rarely 2 or more branching shoots, often suspended by one or a few of the numerous, tangled, aerial roots; stems 1–35 cm long.
Leaves narrow-elliptic to ovate or obovate to oblong, 3–10 cm long, 3.5–16 mm wide, green to purplish.
Inflorescence 1–12 cm long, 2–15-flowered, straight to gently curved, pendent to spreading; pedicel plus ovary c. 6 mm long. Flowers weakly cupped, strongly fragrant. Sepals and lateral petals oblong-ovate, brown and green or dark and light green, c. 5 mm long. Labellum white with green or brown markings; midlobe c. 1.5 mm long, triangular, acute; lateral lobes c. 2 mm long, triangular; spur 2–3 mm long, curved.
Flowering: September–January
Distribution and occurrence: Common in rainforest, especially along creeks, on the outer branches of trees or rarely on rocks; on the coast and escarpment, from sea level to c. 900 m alt.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT
Other Australian states: Qld Vic.
Text by P. H. Weston
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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