Flora of New Zealand Series

Corysanthes cheesemanii Hook. f. ex Kirk in T.N.Z.I.  3,  1871,  180.

Type locality: Australia. In eastern Australian States from Queensland to Tasmania, in places growing larger than in N.Z.

Plant at fl. c. 1–2–(2.5) cm. tall. Stem erect, mostly within lf-mould. Green lf 1–2 cm. long, sessile, orbicular-cordate. Floral bract much < ovary. Fl. standing directly over lf, the ovary erect. Per. barely 1 cm. tall. Dorsal sepal galeate, arching completely over labellum, acute; lateral sepals subulate, minute, seen only in front view between spurs. Petals smaller than sepals, sts barely discernible. Labellum forming a curved tube, its anterior margin abruptly deflexed under the tip of the galea in a semicircular papillose lobe that hides a median pouch; at the base on either side a narrow conical spur projects downwards between petal and sepal.

DIST.: N. Most records from c. lat. 38º northwards, but also known from Taranaki and near Wellington. S. Queen Charlotte Sound, J. B. Irwin; Westport, W. Townson.

Clay banks and old Leptospermum scrub.

FL. 4–9.

Corysanthes cheesemanii. Original localities: "Te Whau, 1865, T.K. Ourakei, Mr T. F. Cheeseman, 1867. Titirangi, T. K.". Type: ? There are specimens in Herb. Kirk (WELT) and in Herb. Cheeseman (AK).

Tubers are borne on laterals that can be quite fleshy and as long as 20 cm., together sts making up a bulk greater than that of the exposed part of the plant.