Citation: J. Weber & Bates in J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 430 (1978).

Synonymy: P. occidentale R. Rogers, Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 32:11 (1908).

Common name: None

Description:
Plant 12-20 cm high; fistula of leaf high on the stem, sometimes just below the inflorescence; leaf lamina greatly exceeding the inflorescence.

Flowers green or purplish, more or less sessile, ovary short and turgid; raceme loose, 10-15-flowered, rarely more; dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, 5-6 mm long; lateral sepals a little longer than the dorsal sepal, slightly 2-dentate, connate in the freshly expanded flower, but usually quite free in the older flower especially in very hot weather; labellum ovate-cuneate, 5-8 x 2-6 mm, sessile, acutely or abruptly recurved; erect portion almost orbicular, with 2 ridges and entire margins; reflexed part oblong-cuneate with crisped or crenulate margins and an acute tip; callus plate beyond the bend, contracted into a narrower and more elevated apical ridge, ending abruptly midway between the bend and the tip; membranous part about equal in extent to the callus.

Published illustration: Pocock (1972) Ground orchids of Australia, pl. 104 as P. patens.

Distribution:  Occurs in small to quite extensive populations in fertile grasslands or open forest; apparently common before settlement but becoming rare with destruction of its habit.   Vic. Flowering time: Sept. — Oct.

Biology: R. Rogers distinguished P. occidentale from P. fuscum on whether the lateral sepals were connate or free. Observation has shown that these are connate at first in both but may separate completely in the fully opened flower.

Author: Not yet available