Flora of New Zealand Series

Townsonia deflexa Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl.  1906, 692.

T. viridis (Hook. f.) Schlechter in Fedde Repert. Spec. nov. Regn. veg. 9, 1911, 250.

Type locality: Tasmania. In Tasmania in high-rainfall Nothofagus forests.

Plant at fl. c. 5–10–(15) cm. tall, elongating later. Stem erect, very slender. Green cauline lf sessile, us. above middle of stem, c. 1 cm. long, orbicular to oblong, apiculate, when well developed similar to lamina of petiolate lf. Petiolate lf from horizontal rhizome near to or remote from base of flowering stem; lamina c. 1 cm. long, orbicular to broadly ovate, obtuse to apiculate, rounded or subcordate at base, margin ± shallowly crenate. Raceme 1–2 cm. long; floral bracts small and membr. Fls 1–4; per. c. 5 mm. long, horizontal to deflexed, greenish. Sepals with thick rounded keels and ± involute margins; dorsal broad, subacute; lateral slightly longer, minutely cucullate. Petals very much shorter, oblong, erect. Labellum shorter than sepals, broad-ovate, partly embracing column; tip ± obtuse, recurved; proximal part concave, marked by median triangular thickening and 2 low longitudinal ridges or basal calli. Column shorter than labellum; wings broad throughout, sharply truncate or almost toothed above. Anther partly behind very prominent stigma; pollinia mealy, the grains remaining in tetrads or larger groups.

DIST.: N., S., St., A., C.

Mossy floor of forest or montane to subalpine scrub.

FL. 11–2.

Townsonia deflexa. Type locality: "Vicinity of Westport, Townson." Lectotype: AK 3626, Mt. Rochfort.

In North Id known only from Ohakune Track, Mt Ruapehu; in South Id probably not uncommon in wetter forests from Nelson southwards but easily overlooked. Records from Mt Anglem (E. Willa 1947) and from Adams Id in the Auckland Is (E. J. Godley 1966) extend the known southward range.

Tubers globose, borne at intervals on a long-persisting fleshy rhizome (?) that ramifies amongst wet moss; anchoring roots appear to be absent and the plant scarcely comes into contact with mineral soil. Each petiolate green lf takes its origin in association with a tuber, the petiole emerging through a cylindric sheathing scale lf.