Flora of New Zealand Series

Type locality: Laingholm, near Auckland. Type: CHR, E. D. Hatch, 20/6/1966, determined by Hatch as "P. trullifolia var. rubella (Col.) Hatch".

Plant to c. 20 cm. tall, often less. Stem slender, smooth, often reddish, internodes us. rather < lvs. Petiolate lvs. in separate rosettes or at base of fl.-stem; lamina c. 5–12 × 5–12 mm., ovate-orbicular, surface not rugose; petiole well defined, sts > lamina. Cauline lvs several, mostly sessile, the lowest 1–2 sts ± like rosette lvs; lamina c. 1.5–4 cm. × 2–7 mm., linear-lanceolate to narrow-elliptic, uppermost us. overtopping ovary but rarely reaching height of galea. Fl. us. solitary, erect. Dorsal sepal c. 1.5–2–(3) cm. tall, tip acuminate, us. ± down-curved; 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, a broad, ± horizontal marginal strip exposed. Labellum narrow-triangular, arched and protruding, apex subacute. Column shorter than labellum; stigma elliptic, slightly prominent.

DIST.: N. Probably extending little south of Auckland city.

Forest, scrub and mossy places.

FL. 4–8.