Flora of New Zealand Series

Original localities: "Northern Island, Edgerley. East Coast, Colenso". Type: K(?).

Plant at fl. 10–45 cm. tall. Stem 1–2 mm. diam., green, erect and rush-like, lfless almost up to infl. Lf us. much < raceme; brown, ± fibrous sheaths of old scale-lvs persist at base of plant, enclosing present tuber and remains of tubers of several earlier seasons. Raceme of c. 3–30 closely spaced fls. Per. pale, greenish, opening into a short wide bell bent on the ovary so as to face downwards. Dorsal sepal c. 3.mm. long, concave, broadly ovate, acuminate; laterals slightly longer, very shortly connate at base, ± gibbous, spreading widely above, broad-elliptic, shortly mucronate. Petals shorter, more membr., with longer hair-tip. Labellum about equally long, articulate by a curved claw to the long column-foot; limb broad-oblong, its upper surface grooved and ± covered by 2 longitudinal papillose calli; margin not ciliate. Lateral processes of column about as long as anthers; tips broad and irregularly lacinate, the anterior margin minutely papillose. Anther on a short filament, definitely overtopping rostellum, apiculate. Stigma about its own height above column-base.

DIST.:N. North of c. lat. 38º.

Apparently endemic.

Open or lightly shaded places.

FL. 3–7.