Terrestrial leafy herbs. Boot of small rounded tubers on long fleshy fibres. Leaves radical and cauline, either all similar or the radical broader and ovate or oblong, often subrosulate; the cauline lanceolate or linear or reduced to sheathing bracts. Flowers large or small, greenish, usually solitary, rarely several in a terminal raceme. Upper sepal erect, incurved, concave, conniving with the petals and forming a broad boat-shaped hood
(galea). Lateral sepals adnate at the base to the foot of the column, more or less connate into an erect or recurved 2-lobed lower lip; the lobes often drawn out into long acuminate points. Petals lanceolate, falcate.
Lip attached by a short claw to the basal projection of the column, mobile; lamina linear or oblong, produced at the base above the claw into a long or short usually curved appendage. Column elongated, incurved, furnished on each side of the rostellum with a quadrangular or hatchet-shaped membranous wing, the base produced into a horizontal projection. Stigma on the face of the column below the wings, oblong. Anther terminal, erect, 2-celled; pollinia 4, granular, free.
About 40 species are known. Of the 11 found in New Zealand, 2 are common Australian plants, the others are endemic. The remainder of the genus is-Australian, with the exception of
one species in New Caledonia. The mode of fertilisation is most curious, and is well worth an attentive study. The upper sepal and petals connive, and form a hood, at the back of which the column is situated. The irritable lip hangs out of the entrance to the flower, and forms a convenient landing-place for insects. When touched by an insect it springs up, carrying the insect with it, and imprisoning it within the flower. The insect can only escape by crawling up the column and passing between the two membranous-projecting wings, emerging directly in front of the anther. In doing this, it is first smeared with viscid matter from the projecting rostellum, and then drags away the pollinia, which can hardly fail to adhere to its sticky body. When visiting another flower, it must pass over the stigma before escaping, and is almost certain to leave some of the pollinia on its viscid surface. For a fuller account, see a paper by myself in Trans. N.Z. Inst. v. 352.
A. Antennæa.
Lower lip erect, its lobes narrowed into long points embracing the galea.
* No broad radical leaves. Cauline leaves linear, grass-like, sheathing the whole stem.
Tall, 6–18 in. Leaves¼–½ in. broad. Flower large, 2–3 in. long; sepals and petals produced into long filiform points |
1.
P. Banksii. |
Short, stout, 4–10 in. Leaves ½–¾ in. broad. Flower small, ¾–1¼ in. long; sepals and petals with short subulate points |
2.
P. australis. |
Slender, 4–10 in. Leaves ⅛–¼ in. broad. Flower small, ¼–¾ in. long; sepals and petals with short subulate points |
3.
P. graminea. |
**Radical leaves broad, oblong to ovate or orbicular, few or numerous and rosulate. Cauline leaves narrow, often reduced to sheathing bracts.
Slender, 4–12 in. Lower leaves ½–1½ in., oblong; cauline 2–5, lanceolate, flat. Flower ¾–1½ in.; galea not de- curved |
4.
P. micromega. |
Stout or slender, 6–12 in. Lower leaves large, 1½–3½ in., broadly oblong; cauline few, large, flat. Flower 1½ in., galea much decurved at the tip |
5.
P. Oliveri |
Stout, glabrous, 2–8 in. Lower leaves subrosulate,1–1¾ in, elliptic-oblong; cauline of 1 or 2 sheathing bracts. Flower ¾ in.; galea arched but not decurved |
6.
P. foliata. |
Small. 2–3 in. Lower leaves 2 or 3, large, ¾–2 in., broadly oblong; cauline wanting. Flower½–¾ in. |
7.
P. venosa. |
Slender, glabrous, 2–8 in. Lower leaves long-petioled; blade¼–⅓ in., ovate; cauline narrow, flat. Flower ½–1 in. |
8.
P. trullifolia. |
Puberulous, 2–6 in. Lower leaves short-petioled; blade small, ovate; cauline of 2–4 sheathing bracts. Flowers ⅓–½ in. |
9.
P. puberula. |
B. Catochilus.
Lower lip reflexed. Basal appendage of lip entire, obtuse.
Leaves ovate-lanceolate. Mower solitary, large, ¾–1 in. long; lip filiform, clothed with golden-yellow hairs |
10.
P. barbata. |
Leaves ovate. Flowers 2–8, small,
¼ in. long; lip oblong, obtuse, glabrous |
11.
P. mutica. |
1. |
P. Banksii,
R. Br. ex A. Cunn. in Bot. Mag. t. 3172.—Tall, slender, leafy, grassy, 6–18 in. high. Lower leaves reduced to scarious sheathing scales.; cauline numerous, sheathing the whole seem, usually overtopping the flower but often shorter than it, 3–14 in. long, ¼–½ in. broad, narrow linear-lanceolate, acuminate, pale-green. Flower solitary, large, 2–3 in. long including the tails to the lateral sepals, green, often streaked with red or reddish-brown. Galea erect at the base and then curved forwards; upper sepal produced into a long caudate often filiform point; petals also caudate-acuminate or shortly filiform, but always much shorter than the upper sepal. Lower lip with the entire part broadly cuneate, the free lobes gradually narrowed into long filiform erect tails 1–2 in. long. Lip narrow linear-oblong, obtuse, its tip slightly exserted; basal appendage curved, repeatedly divided and penicil-late at the tip. Column slender, more than half the length of the galea, upper lobe of wings with an erect subulate tooth at the outer angle; lower lobe narrow-oblong, obtuse.—
A. Cunn. Precur. n. 313; R
aoul, Choix, 41;
Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 248;
Randb. N.Z. Fl. 268. P. emarginata, C
ol. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xv. (1883) 328. P. patens,
Col. l.c. xviii. (1886) 270. P. speciosa,
Col. l.c. xxii. (1890) 488. P. auriculata,
Col. l.c. 489. P. subsimilis,
Col. l.c. xxviii. (
1896) 611.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands: Abund ant in shaded places from the North Cape southwards. Sea-level to 3500 ft. October–November.
The most widely spread of the New Zealand species. It varies much in size and degree of robustness, the size of the flower, and in the length of the filiform tails to the sepals and petals, &c. Mr. Colenso has made no less than 5 species based upon what appear to me to be exceedingly slight and inconstant differences. After a careful study of his descriptions and specimens I must confess my inability to distinguish any of them, even as varieties. |
2. |
P. australis,
Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 248.—Habit of
P. Banksii but shorter, 4–10 in. high, rarely more. Leaves shorter and broader, seldom overtopping the flower, ½–¾ in broad, linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate. Flower small, ¾–¼ in. long, including the points of the sepals. Galea much as in
P. Banksii, but the upper sepal and petals are not produced into filiform points. Lower lip with the free lobes narrowed into short subulate erect points not exceeding the galea in length. Lip and column as in
P. Banksii.—P. Banksii
var. b,
Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 268.
South Island: In various localities from Nelson to the south of Otago, but not common.
Stewart Island, Chatham Islands: Abundant,
Lyall,. Kirk! H. H. Travers, F. A. D, Cox! &c. November–January.
No doubt very closely allied to
P. Banksii, and to some extent connected with it by intermediate forms. But if it be merged with that species, then for the sake of consistency
P. graminea should also be included, for it occupies just the same position on one side of
P. Banksii that
P. australis does on the other. It seems preferable to treat both as distinct though closely related species. |
3. |
P. graminea,
Book. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 248.—Habit of
P. Banksii, but smaller and much more slender, 4–10 in. high. Leaves overtopping the flower or shorter than it, 1–5 in. long, ⅛–¼ in. broad, narrow-linear or narrow linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate. Flower small, ½–¾ in. long, including the points of the sepals. Galea as in
P. Banksii, but the upper sepal and petals, although acuminate, are not produced into filiform points or into very short ones. Lower lip with the free lobes narrowed into subu-late or shortly filiform erect points almost equalling the galea. Lip and column as in
P. Banksii.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 268.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Not uncommon in shaded places in lowland districts from the North Cape southwards. September–November.
Differs from
P. Banksii in the smaller size, narrower leaves, and smaller flower with very short tails to the sepals. |
4. |
P. micromega,
Rook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 248.—Slender, glabrous, 4–12 in. high. Lower leaves ½–1½ in. long, ¼–½ in. broad, ovate-oblong to linear-oblong or lanceolate, obtuse or acute, sessile or petiolate; cauline 2–5, smaller and narrower, sessile, flat, sheathing at the base, acute or acuminate. Flower large, solitary, erect, ¾–1½ in long. Galea erect at the base, then incurved, tip horizontal or nearly so; upper sepal narrow, acuminate; petals slightly shorter, broad, falcate, acuminate. Lower lip with the entire part cuneate, the free lobes very gradually narrowed into long filiform points embracing the galea, often quite 1 in. long. Lip narrow-linear, its tip exserted; basal appendage curved, penicillate. Column about half as long as the galea, upper lobe of wing with an erect subulate tooth, lower lobe oblong, obtuse.—
Handb. N.Z. Fl. 268. P. polyphvlla,
Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxii. (1890) 489.
North Island: Auckland—Swamps near Lake Taupo,
Tryon! near Tonga-riro,
H. Hill! Wellington—Murimotu,
Petrie! Karioi,
A. Hamilton! swamps in the Wairarapa district, C
olenso! Taranaki—Ngaire Swamp,
T. F. C. December–January.
Best known by the slender habit, usually few radical leaves, numerous-rather small flat cauline leaves, and large flower not decurved at the tip. |
5. |
P. Oliveri,
Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvi. (1894) 270.— Stout or slender, leafy, glabrous, 6–12 in. high. Lower leaves.
few, large, 1½–3½ in. long, ¾–1 in. broad, oblong-ovate or elliptic-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, acute, narrowed into a short broad petiole or almost sessile, thin and membranous, veins reticulated; cauline leaves 2 or 3, almost as long but narrower, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, flat, spreading, sheathing at the base. Flowers large, solitary or very rarely two, 1–1½in. long. Galea bent forwards from above the base and then curved sharply downwards so that the point often reaches the ovary; upper sepal produced into a long acuminate point; petals much shorter, falcate, acuminate. Lower lip with the entire part broadly cuneate, the free lobes gradually narrowed into long filiform points embracing the galea and sometimes 1½in. long. Lip narrow-linear, obtuse; basal appendage short, curved, penicillate, Column slender, not half the length of the galea; wings with a short upper lobe bearing an erect subulate tooth at the outer angle, lower lobe very long, linear-oblong, obtuse.
South Island: Nelson—Mount Arthur Plateau,
T. F. C. Canterbury— Bealey,
Kirk! Waimakariri Glacier,
T. F. C. Westland—Kelly's Creek,
Petrie! Otira Gorge,
Cockayne! T. F. C. 1000–4000 ft. December–January.
Very close to
P. micromega, but stouter, with much larger radical and cauline leaves, and with the flower very conspicuously decurved. |
6. |
P. foliata,
Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 249.—Bather stout, glabrous, 2–8 in. high. Lower leaves 2–5, subrosulate, sessile or petioled, 1–1¾ in. long, elliptic-oblong to linear-oblong, obtuse or acute, veins reticulated; cauline leaves reduced to 1 or 2 large sheathing erect lanceolate bracts ½–1 in. long. Flower solitary, erect, fin. long. Galea erect at the base, curved forwards at the tip; upper sepal acute or acuminate; petals falcate, obtuse or sub acute. Lower lip with the entire part short, broadly cuneate, the free lobes gradually narrowed into rather short filiform points embracing the galea but not much exceeding it. Lip linear-oblong, flat, obtuse; basal appendage short, curved, penicillate at the tip. Column not half the length of the galea, upper lobe of wing with a subulate tooth; lower lobe linear-oblong, obtuse.—
Handb. N.Z. Fl. 268.
North Island: Ruahine Mountains and Cape Palliser, C
olenso; Pata-ngata,
Tryon!
South Island: Marlborough,
Kirk! Otago —
Buchanan! Signal Hill, Millburn, Tuapeka,
Petrie! Sea-level to 2500 ft. December–January.
Differs from
P. micromega in the stouter habit, larger more reticulate and often decidedly rosulate radical leaves, Cauline leaves reduced to sheathing bracts, smaller flowers with shorter points to the lateral sepals, and broader shorter lip. |
7. |
P. venosa, C
ot. in Trans. N.Z. Inst, xxviii. (1896) 610.— Small, perfectly glabrous, 2–3 in. high. Leaves 2 or 3 near the base of the stem, large for the size of the plant, ¾–2 in. long, broadly
oblong to oblong-ovate or elliptic-oblong, obtuse or subacute, thin and membranous, veins conspicuously reticulated; cauline leaves wanting. Scape short; flower solitary,½–¾ in. long. Galea erect at the base, sharply curved forwards towards the tip; upper sepal acute or acuminate; petals broadly falcate, acute. Lower lip broadly cuneate, the free lobes narrowed into filiform points ex-ceeding the galea, sometimes recurved at the tips. Lip lanceolate, narrowed to a blunt point, rather thick, grooved, purplish; basal appendage penicillate at the tip. Column barely half as long as the galea, upper lobe of wing with an erect subulate point; lower lobe oblong, obtuse.—(?) P. trifolia,
Col. l.c. xxxi. (1899) 281.
North Island: Ruahine Mountains,
Olsen!
South "Island: Nelson — Mount Frederic, near Westport,
Townson! 2000–3500 ft.
So far as can be ascertained from the limited amount of material available, this is separated from
P. foliata by the smaller size and proportionately larger leaves, the short scape, which wants the large sheathing bracts of
P. foliata, the more sharply curved and more acute galea, and differently shaped lip.
|
8. |
P. trullifolia,
Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 249.—Stem slender, glabrous, 2–6 in. high, seldom more. Radical leaves often wanting in flowering specimens or 1–4, in flowerless ones more numerous and subrosulate, petiolate; blade ¼–⅓ in. long, broadly ovate or orbicular-cordate or trowel-shaped, acute or obtuse; petiole as long or longer than the blade. Cauline leaves or bracts 3–5, flat, spreading, ⅓–1. in. long, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, the lower sometimes broader and petiolate. Flower- solitary,½–1 in. long. Galea erect at the base and then gradually curved forwards; upper sepal lanceolate, acuminate; petals as- broad, falcate, acuminate. Lower lip broadly cuneate, the lobes long and filiform, embracing the upper sepal and exceeding it. Lip. linear, glabrous, obtuse, its tip exserted; basal appendage linear, much curved, penicillate at the tip. Column less than half the length of the galea; wings with a small triangular upper lobe or tooth; lower lobe oblong, obtuse.—
Handb. N.Z. FL 269-. P. rubella,
Col. in. Trans. N.Z. Inst. xviii. (1886)271.
North Island: Lowland districts from the North Cape to Wellington, apparently rare and local to the south of the East Cape.
South Island: Marlborough—Mount Peter,
J. Macmahon! |
9. |
P. puberula,
Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 249.—Stem slender, puberulous, especially below, 2–4 in. high. Leaves all radical, crowded in a rosette at the base of the stem, small, shortly petiolate, ⅕–½ in. including the petiole, ovate or ovate-cordate, acute; bracts on the stem above the leaves 2–4, sheathing, erect, lanceolate, acuminate. Mower solitary, erect, ½ in. long. Galea erect, shortly and abruptly incurved towards the tip, the upper sepal acute, the petals as long or rather longer, obtuse. Lateral sepals united for nearly half their length into a narrow almost quadrangular lamina,
the lobes filiform, erect, separated by a broad truncate sinus which bears a small inflexed tooth in the middle. Lip linear-oblong, obtuse, its tip barely exserted; basal appendage linear, curved, penicillate at the tip. Column about; half the length of the galea, the wings with a small erect triangular upper lobe or tooth, the lower lobe linear-oblong, obtuse.—
Handb. N.Z. FL 269.
North Island: Auckland—Clay hills from the Kaipara Harbour southwards to the Thames and Middle Waikato, not common.
South Island: Nelson—Vicinity of Westport,
Townson! September–October.
A distinct little plant, well marked by the puberulous stems, small rosulate leaves, the short blunt curved tip to the galea, and comparatively short filiform points to the lateral sepals. |
10. |
P. barbata,
Lindl. Swan River App. 53.— Stem stout or slender, glabrous, 4–8 in. high. Leaves radical, crowded at the base of the stem, often rosulate, erect, sessile,¼–¾ in. long, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, acute or acuminate. Stem above the leaves with 2–5 large loosely sheathing erect empty bracts. Flower solitary, ¾–1 in. long. Galea erect, incurved at the tip, oblong; upper sepal and petals both produced into short subulate points, the latter very narrow. Lower lip linear, deflexed, 2-lobed about half-way down, the lobes very narrow, acute or obtuse. Lip ½–¾ in. long, filiform, terete, exserted, pendulous, fringed with long golden yellow hairs and terminated by a large capitate or irregularly lobed purple gland; appendix very short, curved, penicillate at the tip. Column slender, erect; the wings each with a long erect subulate tooth on the front angle, the lower lobe narrow, ciliate.—
Benth. Fl. Austral. vi. 362. P. squamata,
Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 249;
Fl. Tasm. ii. 20, t. 116;
Handb. N.Z. Fl. 269
(not of R. Br.).
North Island: Auckland—Exact locality not stated,
Sinclair! near Xaitaia,
R. H. Matthews! Lower Thames Valley, from Kopu to Puriri and Kerikeri,
Adams! between Mercer and Miranda,
T. F. C.; Tirau and other localities in the Upper Thames Valley,
T. F. C. October–November.
A very remarkable little plant, at once recognised by the filiform exserted lip, plumose with bright-yellow hairs. It is a common Tasmanian plant, and is also found in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. |
11. |
P. mutica, R.
Br. Prodr. 328.—Rather stout, 2–5 in. high. Leaves radical, forming a rosette at the base of the stem, some-times withering at the flowering season, shortly petiolate, ⅓–¾ in. long, ovate, acute, veins reticulated. Stem with 2–5 large sheathing bracts above the leaves. Bacerne 2–8-flowered; flowers small, about ¼ in. long, greenish-brown. Galea very broad, much in-curved, obtuse or subacute at the tip. Lower lip small, reflexed, concave, nearly orbicular when spread out, 2-lobed almost to the middle. Lip on a very short flat claw, lamina broadly oblong, obtuse; appendage broad at the base, short and thick, entire, founded or emarginate at the tip. Column erect; wings broad,
the lower lobe or auricle broad, obtuse.—
Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 21, t. 117
A.;
Benth. Fl. Austral. vi. 362;
Fitzgerald, Austral. Orch. i. pt. 2;
Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xv. (1883) 300. P. tristis,
Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst, xviii. (1886) 271.
North Island: Hawke's Bay—Waipawa River,
E. Hill!
South Island: Canterbury—Lake Lyndon and Lake G-rassmere,
J. W. Enys! Otago—Lee Stream,
Sydney Fulton! Horse Range, Naseby, St. Bathan's, Cambrian's,.
Petrie! Sea-level to 2500 ft. November–January.
An abundant Australian plant, ranging from Queensland to Tasmania. |