Flora of New Zealand Series

P. rubella Col. in T.N.Z.I.  18,  1886,  271.

P. trullifolia var. gracilis Cheesem. in T.N.Z.I. 47, 1915, 46.

P. trullifolia var. rubella (Col.) Hatch in T.R.S.N.Z. 77, 1949, 244 descr. et ic. excl.

Original localities: "Bay of Islands, Edgerley, Colenso, etc. Auckland, Sinclair". Lectotype: K, New Zealand, Colenso.

Plant to c. 25 cm. tall, us. less. Stem slender, smooth, or upper internodes occ. minutely rough but not puberulous, us. green, internodes us. > lvs. Petiolate lvs in separate rosettes or at base of fl.-stem; lamina c. 5–10 × 5–10 mm., broad-ovate to orbicular-cordate, acute to subacute, veins slightly raised giving rugose surface, petiole well-defined, sts > lamina. Cauline lvs several, lowest us. petiolate and ± trulliform, those above c. 5–20 × 2–5 mm., sessile, linear-lanceolate, uppermost rarely overtopping ovary. Fl. us. solitary, erect. Dorsal sepal c. 1–1.5 cm. tall, tip acuminate, ± horizontal; lateral sepals diverging at wide angle forming U or wide W from front view, this region abruptly prominent in side view, tips long-caudate and much overtopping galea. Petals almost as long as dorsal sepal, only a narrow marginal strip exposed. Labellum narrow-triangular, arched and protruding, apex subacute. Column shorter than labellum; stigma elliptic, slightly prominent.

DIST.: N. Common north of c. lat. 38º; known also from east of Wellington.

Forest floor, scrub, banks.

FL. 6–10.

P. rubella Col. Original record: "Whangaroa, County of Mangonui; 1884: Mr R. W. Rowson". Type: WELT.

P. trullifolia var. gracilis Cheesem. Original localities: "Vicinity of Auckland, Waitakerei, and Hunua Ranges, T.F.C.; Thames, J. Adams! Kaitaia, R. H. Matthews!". Lectotype: K. Vicinity of Auckland, Cheeseman, sheet annotated "Illustrations of the New Zealand Flora Plate 194", specimen matching left-hand figure of the plate.