Flora of New Zealand Series

Neottia sinensis Pers. Syn. Pl.  2,  1807,  511.

N. australis R.Br. Prodr.  1810,  319.

Spiranthes australis (R.Br.) Lindl. in Bot. Reg. 10,  1824,  sub t. 823.

S. novae-zelandiae Hook. f. Fl. N.Z.  1,  1853,  243.

Type locality: China.

Plant at fl. c. 10–100 cm. tall, mostly glab. Roots several, ± spindle-shaped, on vertical sympodial axis. Stem erect, slender to stout, much exceeding lvs. Basal lvs 2–6, c. 5–20 cm. × 5–15 mm.; lamina narrow-elliptic tapering into petiole of about equal length; stem-bracts 2–4. Spike c. 2–15 cm. × 5–10 mm.; fls ± crowded, almost sessile. Ovary almost glab. to closely glandular-pubescent. Per. 4–7 mm. long, ± cylindric, rose-red to pink except for white labellum. Dorsal sepal ± oblong, slightly concave except at tip; laterals slightly pouched at base, obtuse to subacute. Petals ± oblong, ± adnate to dorsal sepal. Labellum broad and recurved at tip; upper margin ± laciniate and much crisped and irregularly thickened; base sessile, concave, smooth except for 2 prominent lateral calli which fit beneath stigma in undissected fl. Column narrow below stigma; anther obtuse, overtopping stigma; stigma broad and prominent, sts lacking rostellum, us. overtopped by delicate, membr., ± laciniate column-wings.

DIST.: N., S., Ch.

Grassy or scrubby damp places, recorded from scattered localities from sea level to c. 900 m. altitude.

FL. 2.

S. australis. Type locality: Near Port Jackson, N.S.W.

S. novae-zelandiae. Original locality: "Northern Island, Colenso". Said to differ from S. australis of Port Jackson in narrow labellum.

The name S. lancea (Thunb.) Backer, Bakhuisen van den Brink, van Steenis has been applied to the N.Z. Spiranthes but Vuijk (Blumea 11, 1961, 226–228) has shown that the type of the basionym, Ophrys lancea Thunb., belongs to the unrelated genus Herminium.

In most N.Z. fls examined the characteristic rostellum is not to be seen, even in young unopened buds; instead the stigma has a very small median tooth without sign of viscidium. Hatch (T.R.S.N.Z. 82, 1954, 615) states: "The reduction of the rostellum and labellar calli . . . is due in my opinion to degeneration following self-fertilisation as the species extends southwards into cooler regions. Thus we find the degenerate form in Tasmania, and in New Zealand to the south of the Egmont-Ruapehu line, while the normal form occurs in the North Auckland peninsula, the Australian mainland and New Caledonia." He points out that the self-fertile fls are normally narrow-tubular, but that by growing plants under glass fls may be made to open fully. In general fls seen from north of Auckland are larger than those from further south, more densely glandular-hairy, and more openly spaced in the infl. In the south fls appear to be self-fertilized. An ample set of seed has been found in a raceme where all fls retained their pollinia intact.